KILLINGTON, Vt. — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is leading the giant slalom after the first run on Saturday, aiming for her 100th career victory in the World Cup.
Shiffrin clocked a time of 55.78 seconds, edging out Sweden’s Sara Hector, the reigning Olympic giant slalom champion, by a margin of .32 seconds. At that point, a few competitors with lower rankings had yet to take their turn on the course.
On a chilly and blustery day, Shiffrin was met with enthusiastic cheers from thousands of fans as she and her fellow racers descended Killington’s Superstar course. Shiffrin has previously faced challenges on this particular course, referring to it as “quite a nuisance in GS,” but today she executed an almost perfect first run.
“I’m really pleased with that run,” stated Shiffrin. “There’s always room to be more aggressive, and I believe everyone feels that way. However, I felt smooth and precise, achieving many of the sensations I wanted. I’m looking forward to the second run and the chance to push for more.”
Despite never winning the Killington giant slalom in the past, Shiffrin has made it to the podium three times in six attempts.
Securing a win would mark a significant milestone for the 29-year-old athlete, reaching 100 World Cup victories—an achievement once considered nearly impossible within the Alpine skiing community. If she finishes in the top three, it will also be her 155th podium at the World Cup, tying her with Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark for the all-time record. Shiffrin previously set a new benchmark by surpassing Stenmark’s longtime record for the most World Cup wins in March 2023 when she secured her 87th career victory.
