American Mikaela Shiffrin set a new record after claiming an 83e career victory in the Alpine Skiing World Cup on Tuesday in the giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy.
Shiffrin completed both runs of the competition with a time of two minutes and 61 hundredths of a second, slicing 0.45 seconds off the time of second-placed Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami. Local favorite, Italian Federica Brignone completed the podium, 1.43 seconds behind.
“It’s going to take me a while to find my words,” admitted Shiffrin, visibly moved. I don’t know what to say right now. »
Shiffrin had equaled compatriot Lindsey Vonn’s record of 82 World Cup victories after winning the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia on 8 January. Shiffrin had already triumphed at Kronplatz in 2019.
Vonn retired four years ago after numerous injuries cut short his sporting career.
Shiffrin is just three wins away from equaling Ingemark Stenmark’s all-time mark — men and women combined — of 86.
Stenmark shone on the World Cup circuit during the 1970s and 1980s.
Shiffrin had set the fastest time in the first run, and as a result she was last on the track in the second.
“I was a little nervous going into the second run, but mostly I hate waiting,” Shiffrin said. Eventually, when it was my turn, it seemed like everything went quiet, and I pushed hard in every turn. It was great to cross the finish line, and to see that I had been very fast. I knew that the other skiers had been very fast. I said to myself: “It’s possible that this (the victory) escapes me, so I must have a very good performance”. And it was. »
Shiffrin looked exhausted and relieved after crossing the finish line. She crouched down before leaning her head between her sticks. She then bit her lip, before hugging Gut-Behrami and Brignone.
Brignone simply said “congratulations” to Shiffrin, and she replied “Oh my God! »
It was Shiffrin’s ninth win so far this season.
“I feel so lucky to be his teammate and to be able to witness his every exploit,” said American skier Nina O’Brien, who finished 18e tuesday. She is so inspiring. »
And Shiffrin is only 27. Vonn was 33 when she won her last World Cup, and Stenmark 32.
But as of now, she is the most decorated skier in history.
“It’s very good for our discipline, for alpine skiers,” said Tessa Worley, two-time giant slalom world champion. She continues to amaze us every day. It inspires us, and forces us to push back our own limits. »
Shiffrin could continue his climb up the winning streak on Wednesday with another giant slalom at Kronplatz. She will then take part in two slaloms — her favorite discipline, in which she has collected 51 of her 83 career victories — in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, next weekend. This is where her World Cup career began, in March 2011, when she was just 15 years old.
If she wins her next three stages, then she could equal Stenmark’s mark on Sunday.
This new mark was set about a year after Shiffrin was ruled out of the podium in six events at the Beijing Olympics amid huge expectations of her.
After a short break, Shiffrin will be among the favorites at the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Courchevel and Méribel, France, which begin on February 6.
For her part, the Canadian Valérie Grenier managed to break into the top 10, finishing ninth, 2.36 seconds behind Shiffrin. Grenier had savored his first career World Cup victory in the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora on January 7.
With the Associated Press