Mikaela Shiffrin secures the slalom season title ahead of the upcoming Olympics, making her the first skier in World Cup history to claim nine season titles in a single discipline. She achieved this feat by winning the last slalom race before the Milan Cortina Games in Špindlerův Mlýn, Czech Republic.
Despite her remarkable achievement, Shiffrin may soon have to share the record with teammate Lindsey Vonn, who boasts eight downhill titles and currently leads the standings in her second season back since her retirement in 2019. On the men’s side, Ingemar Stenmark and Marcel Hirscher have each won the slalom globe and overall title eight times.
During the recent race, Shiffrin displayed dominance by winning both runs, outpacing Camille Rast from Switzerland by 1.67 seconds. Shiffrin’s victory came after securing her first giant slalom podium in two years. However, she remains cautious about interpreting these results as indicative of her performance at the Olympics, where she intends to compete in slalom, giant slalom, and the team combined events.
Reflecting on the race, Shiffrin emphasized the distinct challenges of the Olympics and the importance of approaching the competition with a positive mindset and trust in her team. She expressed joy in returning to the Czech venue where she made her World Cup debut at age 15 in 2011, highlighting her enduring love for skiing.
Shiffrin’s remarkable career includes 71 race wins in slalom and 108 overall, setting records for both men and women. She currently leads the season standings with an insurmountable 288-point lead over Rast. Following the upcoming Olympics, there are two more slalom races scheduled, with a race win worth 100 points each.
The women’s World Cup will continue in Crans-Montana with downhill and super-G events next weekend, marking the final races before the Olympics.