SESTRIERE, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin has solidified her status as one of the all-time greats in skiing, achieving an extraordinary milestone by claiming her 100th career victory in the World Cup during a thrilling race on Sunday. After facing a setback caused by a major crash in November, Shiffrin’s win in her preferred slalom event not only marked a return for her but also underscored her relentless pursuit of excellence.
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Shiffrin maintained her lead from the first run, finishing 0.61 seconds ahead of Zrinka Ljutic, while her fellow American teammate Paula Moltzan secured third place, trailing by 0.64 seconds. At just 29 years old, Shiffrin achieved another significant record by matching the legendary Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark with her 155th career top-3 finish in World Cup events.
After crossing the finish line, Shiffrin took a moment to absorb the joy of her accomplishment, appearing amazed as she gazed at the scoreboard confirming her victory. Lying in the snow, she placed her right hand on her helmet and was soon lifted by Moltzan, who embraced her warmly. Overcome with emotion during the post-race interview, Shiffrin shed tears upon reflecting on the challenges she had faced in recent months.
“Everyone has been incredibly supportive and kind. I am truly grateful,” she expressed. Just three months prior, Shiffrin earned her 99th win in a slalom event in Gurgl, Austria. The goal of reaching 100 wins felt tangible just a week later, but a serious crash at Killington, Vermont, derailed her progress after she led the first run in a giant slalom event.
The injuries sustained from that fall, which included significant trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound, forced her out of competition for several weeks and led to “PTSD-like” anxiety regarding her giant slalom racing. During two giant slalom events in Sestriere, she struggled, finishing in 25th place on Friday and failing to make the top 30 in the first run on Saturday for the first time since 2012.
However, Shiffrin displayed remarkable composure in the slalom race on Sunday, executing an aggressive second run that was half a second quicker than Ljutic, who has already bagged three World Cup slalom victories this season. “A lot of elements had to fall into place for this victory, but I also did something right along the way,” a visibly emotional Shiffrin stated.
Shiffrin and Stenmark now stand as the greatest record holders in the World Cup’s nearly six-decade history. Reflecting on her accomplishments, Stenmark noted in a past interview, “She’s much better than I ever was; comparisons aren’t fair.” Shiffrin broke his long-standing record of 86 World Cup victories in March 2023, nearly 34 years after Stenmark’s last win.
When it comes to podium finishes, Shiffrin matched Stenmark’s impressive tally of 155 top-3 results in six fewer races; she has now competed in 278 World Cup events, whereas Stenmark’s last podium appearance came in his 284th race. This achievement only serves to highlight the legacy being built by Shiffrin as she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport.
