Alpine Skiing World Cup | Mikaela Shiffrin breaks the ultimate victory record

Thanks to her versatility, her consistency and the way she influenced her sport, Mikaela Shiffrin was already considered the greatest female skier in history. Now it’s official, statistically. The American won the 87^e victory of his career in the World Cup, Saturday morning in the slalom of Are in Sweden, thus eclipsing the mark established by Ingemar Stenmark in 1989.

Shiffrin didn’t even need to deliver her best ever run on her second run, she had skied so well on her first. With a 0.69 second lead over Anna Swenn Larsson, she just had to be herself and make sure she navigated between each pole with grace, precision and elegance.

“Rarely have I felt so good on my skis during the second run, especially since I obviously wanted to win. When you have a lead, you have to be smart, but I also wanted to go fast. I skied exactly how I wanted. It was fantastic”, she explained after the race, well settled in the big leader’s chair, matched with her sunglasses Oakley, her Barilla beanie and her Atomic skis.

Everyone was about to have a great time. Everyone wanted to witness history.

When they reached the bottom of the track, Shiffrin was amazed. A bit like with every victory. Despite a slight delay in the top portion, she still increased her priority, finishing 0.92 seconds ahead of Wendy Holdener. “It’s hard to take in,” she admitted.

As she slid down, the new queen kept her mouth wide open. Mouth agape and out of breath, not knowing what to do with his hands. She ended up crouching down, as she often does, to contemplate the moment. Alone among the others.

Holdener and Swenn Larsson came to join her. ” You are f*****g amazing ! “Launched the Swede before taking her in her arms.

A new record

His brother Taylor allowed himself to cross the security barriers to grab his younger sister, in full presentation of the podium. Shiffrin wasn’t expecting him.

“I didn’t even know my brother and sister-in-law were coming,” she said. It makes it all even more special! »

The Shiffrins probably wouldn’t have missed this moment for the world. The family prodigy had just rewritten the alpine ski record books.

The American, who will blow out 28 candles in two days, shattered a mark established six years before her birth.

Arguably the greatest female skier of all time, the tall blonde has earned her 87^e victory at his 246^e race. Which means it has a success rate of 35.3%. This is also his 136^e career podium, equivalent to 55.2%. Staggering, almost unbelievable numbers that will be part of the legend forever.

The most amazing thing about Shiffrin, and the reason why she is so respected and esteemed, is her ability to shine and win in all disciplines. Few skiers can benefit from such versatility. Shiffrin is in all the fights and she would never have joined Stenmark if she had focused solely on the technical events, her favorite field.

In her career, she has 53 wins in slalom, 20 in giant slalom, five in Super-G, three in downhill, three head-to-head and two in parallel slalom. Not to mention his seven World Championship titles and two Olympic gold medals.

Still, the destinies of Shiffrin and Stenmark seem intimately linked. Shiffrin won his first World Cup at 17 on December 20, 2012, also in Are. Sweden was Stenmark’s home country. While the latter recorded his 86^e victory on February 19, 1989, in Aspen, Colorado, Shiffrin’s home state.

Another interesting data, the American dethroned the Swede exactly 13 years to the day after her first start in the World Cup, March 11, 2011, when she was only 15 years old.

A landmark season

Shiffrin is having one of his best seasons ever. This highly anticipated victory is his 13^e in 28 races this season. Her personal best is 17 victories, set in 2019. After her setbacks at the Beijing Olympics last winter, she proves that she should never be counted for beaten.

There are still the season finals to be played in Andorra next week, but already she has accomplished her three main goals for 2023: winning the big crystal globe, winning the giant slalom globe and becoming the most successful skier in the world. ‘history. With this gain, she is in a good position to also get the globe back in slalom.

When the FIS interviewer thanked him for the interview and congratulated him on his victory, Shiffrin asked if she could add anything, just before the mic moved away from her mouth for good. “I just want to thank my team for this season and for my whole career. After all these years, it’s amazing and I just want to say thank you to them, for everything. »