Shiffrin’s latest triumph in the Olympic slalom has set a new benchmark: a record-extending 105th World Cup victory, secured with a 1.55-second margin over Swiss skier Camille Rast and 1.71 seconds ahead of German Emma Aicher. The performance underscores her dominance, as she continues to outpace rivals by more than a full second in every race this season.
With this win, Shiffrin has now claimed the opening four slaloms of the season, and five consecutive victories when the final race of the previous season is included. Her consistency has been nothing short of extraordinary, setting a new standard for the sport.
Her margins this year have all exceeded one second, with three races surpassing 1.5 seconds: 1.66 in Levi, Finland; 1.23 in Gurgl, Austria; and 1.57 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. The average margin across these races is 1.5025 seconds, a statistic that highlights her speed and precision.
“I’m just pushing. I’m not asking questions. Sometimes you just got to take it and roll with it,” Shiffrin said. “Lock in this feeling.”
Rivals struggled on the course. German Lena Duerr, who had been third after the first run, went off course early in her second descent. Italian-born Lara Colturi, racing for Albania, straddled a gate near the end of her opening run, ending a streak of three straight slalom podiums. Swiss Wendy Holdener, who finished seventh, hit a hole in the finish area, was flipped into the air and landed on her back. She grimaced, then rose and walked away, and it was not immediately clear if she was injured, but she did compete in the second run.
Defending World Cup slalom champion Zrinka Ljutic and Olympic silver medalist Katharina Lienberger, who started next, both failed to finish midway down. This was Ljutic’s third consecutive slalom in which she did not finish. Austrian Katharina Truppe finished fourth, while American Paula Moltzan moved from ninth to fifth thanks to the fastest second-run time.
Shiffrin’s 68th World Cup slalom win also adds to her Olympic résumé. She earned gold in slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games and another gold in giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, but she did not medal at the 2022 Beijing Games.
The women’s alpine skiing events at the February 6-22 Olympics will take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Shiffrin previously captured four medals in her four events at the 2021 World Championships, and Lindsey Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup victories.
Lindsey Vonn, who won a downhill last week at age 41, no longer competes in slalom. She will return this weekend for a downhill and a super-G in nearby Val d’Isere.
Rast and Aicher have moved up in the overall standings. Rast recovered from a mistake in the second run to earn the sixth podium of her career. Aicher, who also won a downhill last weekend, is one of the few skiers competing in all four events. They now occupy third and fourth overall, respectively.
Shiffrin leads the overall standings with 558 points, followed by Alice Robinson with 394, Rast with 343, and Aicher with 319.
Key Takeaways
- Shiffrin wins her 105th World Cup slalom, margin of 1.55 seconds.
- Average margin this season is 1.5025 seconds, with three races over 1.5 seconds.
- Rival skiers faced course difficulties, leading to several DNFs and lower placements.
Shiffrin’s performance not only cements her place at the top of the World Cup but also positions her as a strong contender for Olympic glory. The race highlighted both her unyielding speed and the unpredictable nature of slalom, where even the best can falter.
