Mikaela Shiffrin continues her reign in the slalom events of the Olympic season, showcasing unparalleled dominance by clinching significant victories. The renowned American skier secured her 105th World Cup win in Courcheval, France, after her main competitors faltered during the initial run of a night race.
Shiffrin widened her lead in the second run, crossing the finish line in a remarkable 1 minute 42.50 seconds, surpassing Swiss skier Camille Rast by 1.55 seconds and German racer Emma Aicher by 1.71 seconds. This marks Shiffrin’s fourth consecutive slalom win this season and her fifth consecutive victory, including the last race of the previous season.
Following the race, Rast and Aicher climbed to third and fourth place in the overall standings. Shiffrin maintains her lead with 558 points, trailed by Alice Robinson (394), Rast (343), and Aicher (319). Laurence St-Germain of St.-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., secured the top Canadian position by finishing 13th, trailing Shiffrin by 3.97 seconds, while Amelia Smart of Invermere, B.C., claimed the 23rd spot among 24 finishers.
Shiffrin’s victories this season consistently exceeded a full second, with three of them surpassing a 1.5-second lead: 1.66 seconds in Levi, Finland; 1.23 seconds in Gurgl, Austria; and 1.57 seconds in Copper Mountain, Colorado, before her latest triumph in the French Alps, averaging a margin of 1.5025 seconds.
Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin expressed her focus on pushing forward without hesitation, emphasizing the importance of embracing the winning feeling. Notably, several rivals faced challenges during the race, including Lena Duerr from Germany and Lara Colturi, an Italian skier representing Albania, who encountered setbacks that affected their standings.
Despite a mishap at the end of her first run, Wendy Holdener managed to secure a seventh-place finish, while defending World Cup slalom champion Zrinka Ljutic and Olympic silver medalist Katharina Liensberger faced early exits during the competition.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin’s remarkable achievements in slalom racing are further highlighted by her 68th World Cup slalom win and previous Olympic gold medals. The upcoming Women’s alpine skiing events at the Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, set the stage for Shiffrin to continue her success, following her impressive medal haul at the 2021 world championships in the same location.
As the ski season progresses, fans can anticipate more thrilling performances from Shiffrin and other top contenders, including the return of legendary skier Lindsey Vonn, who will be competing in downhill and super-G events in Val d’Isere.