Mikaela Shiffrin Earns 97th Career Win in Stunning Slalom Finals Victory

GEPA pictures

Saturday, March 16th, Saalbach Austria, Stifel US Ski Team’s shining star Mikaela Shiffrin overcame a first-run deficit to earn her seventh World Cup slalom victory of the season. The victory represents her career’s 97th World Cup win. She entered the race as the season slalom champion but dramatically ended her last race. She won both races she entered after her January injury. There is nothing that hasn’t been said about her abilities; they are simply amazing. Her skill and determination are simply unmatched. While there was doubt among many because of the difficult conditions she found a way to rise to the top.

“Oh wow, it’s been a wild season,” Shiffrin said. “I’m happy the final race of the season went so well. I’m looking forward to next season already.”

“It’s just a little bit hard to process it all. These days just make me feel so invigorated, like so alive, and that’s what I’m focusing on. I’m trying to soak that all in,”

“I am excited to see Aleks and for some things to come in the next weeks and over the summer. I am excited to go home. I haven’t been home since October 1st, so I’m really excited to go home, but I don’t want the season to be over,”

“There is always something from every season, and this one taught me a lot about patience, trust, communication, and managing pain while skiing. Those are really important things that I hope will be useful for the rest of my career.”

Completing the Podium

Norway’s Mina Fuerst Holtmann used the fourth-fastest final run to gain six positions and finish second (+0.54). The first-run leader, Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson, held onto third (+0.63). Swenn Larsson earned her third trip to the podium steps this season. It was Holtmann’s first podium of the season and second of her career.

“First of all, I really love these conditions, so I am lucky with that. I was just focusing on what to do and being really, really strict with myself, and that’s working,” Holtmann said. “Because I am usually losing my head and doing too much. Now it’s like ‘just stay with the task’ and it worked. It’s a huge relief for me and the whole team.”

“I am not happy with my second run. I know that I could have been battling with Mikaela (Shiffrin) today and it’s a shame that I didn’t,” said Sween-Larsson. “It was a really tough time there (mid-season), and I was thinking, should I continue or should I stop the season? I am really happy that I didn’t, that I fought back, and that my body started working really well again,” she said. “Now I will train even harder to be fighting at the top next year.”

How the race unfolded

During the second run, the snow was salted and warm, and to make it more challenging, it also offered occasional light rain. Reality gave a more significant edge to the racers, who started early. The third racer, Slovenian Neja Dvornik, took advantage. She had a (2.26) advantage over the first two athletes when she crossed the finish. Delivering the fastest final run, she held the lead for the next 12 racers and moved up to 17th place overall to earn the best result of her career finishing 4th. She finally relinquished the lead to 2nd place Norway’s Holtmann.

The final four women of the day were all within a second of each other after the first run; the first to ski was Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer. When she started, Holtmann had a (0.13) lead. However, Nullmeyer crossed the line well back of the leaders and finished 7th. That kept Holtmann and Dvornik in the top two positions.

The next to ski was the Croatian Zrinka Ljutic, who skied off-course and did not finish. At that point, Holtman was guaranteed a podium. However, the most successful slalom skier in history was next to race. Shiffrin is so successful because she works hard and is amazingly talented. She took a (0.54) lead. That left only the first-run leader, Swenn Larsson, at the start. However, Swenn Larsson finished third.

Notably, Canadian Ali Nullmeyer, 4th after the first run, ended the day in 7th. Nullmeyer ends the season with an exceptional four top-ten slalom finishes. She ended the slalom season ranked 11th.

USA Women’s Nations Cup winners

In the unofficial women’s slalom Nations Cup standings, the Stifel US Ski Team overcame the Swiss leaders and finished the season accumulating the most points. This is the second consecutive year that the US and Switzerland finished first and second. The end-of-season advantage was only 15 points.

Unfortunately, Stifel US Ski Team’s Paula Moltzan, seventh after the first run, straddled while skiing well and did not reach the finish.

In a thrilling finale to the women’s slalom season, Mikaela Shiffrin showcased her unparalleled talent and determination by overcoming a first-run deficit to claim her seventh World Cup slalom victory of the season. With this win, she further solidifies her status as a skiing legend. As the season draws to a close, Shiffrin’s remarkable performance serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to being her best.

Final results and analysis of the fastest three and North Americans

Click on images to enlarge

Analysis of the fastest three and North Americans