Mikaela Shiffrin has opened the Olympic season with a flawless run of victories, claiming four wins in four World Cup slalom races and solidifying her status as the sport’s top contender. The American, who has accumulated 105 World Cup victories overall, is back in top form after two career-shattering crashes, and she is already poised to compete in four events at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Unstoppable Slalom Performance
Shiffrin’s slalom form is nothing short of spectacular. She has won five straight slaloms, including the final race of last season, and her longest winning streak of seven slaloms has occurred twice in her career. The average margin of victory in her slalom wins is 1.5 seconds, a testament to her dominance on the course. One more victory would bring her back to the best start to a season in her career, matching the first five slaloms she won in 2018-19.
A Mindful Approach to Pressure
When asked about her recent success, Shiffrin said, “This season so far I had the ability to like bring top level turns in those pressure moments.” She continued, “The world when they’re watching thinks there’s no pressure because I have a big lead or I did it the race before but every single time I stand in the start it’s like a new situation and I found a way so far. I found a way to dig really deep to find that quality skiing. But it’s not straightforward. It takes so much effort.” Her comments illustrate how she turns mental focus into physical execution.
Slalom Momentum and the “Gas Pedal” Effect
Shiffrin also explained how she manages momentum during a run. “Right now I can feel when I have a disruption in my momentum and then in my mind it is like a gas pedal,” she said. This self-awareness allows her to accelerate when needed and recover quickly from small errors, a skill that has become a hallmark of her recent victories.
Giant Slalom Challenges
In contrast to her slalom prowess, Shiffrin has struggled in giant slalom this season. She has not appeared on the podium in the discipline since the crash in Killington, Vermont, which left her with a deep puncture wound in her side and severe trauma to her oblique muscles. Despite these setbacks, she has finished fourth twice, including the last race in Tremblant, Quebec, showing that she is gradually regaining her form.
Super-G Resurgence
Shiffrin’s return to speed events began with a super-G run in St. Moritz, Switzerland, her first speed race since a downhill crash in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, nearly two years ago. She was on pace for a solid finish until she missed the final gate, yet the experience marked a significant step toward her goal of adding super-G to her Olympic program. “Even if it’s not the Olympics, super-G is a big goal of mine to return to a strong form in super-G World Cup,” she said.
Olympic Prospects and the Dream Team
Shiffrin holds two Olympic gold medals-slalom in 2014 and giant slalom in 2018-making her a prime candidate for the Cortina roster. She could compete in slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and the new team combined event. The team combined requires one racer to complete a downhill run and another to complete a slalom run, with the combined times determining the result. Shiffrin and teammate Breezy Johnson won gold in this discipline at last season’s World Championships.
Lindsey Vonn’s New Opportunity
Lindsey Vonn, who previously campaigned unsuccessfully to team with Shiffrin in the combined at Worlds, now has a better chance of forming a skiing “Dream Team” after her strong start this season at age 41. Vonn’s resurgence adds depth to the U.S. lineup and heightens anticipation for the upcoming Olympic events.
Semmering Success
Shiffrin returned to the Austrian resort of Semmering this weekend, where she has claimed seven of her record 105 World Cup victories. She has achieved three victories in three days on two separate occasions-once in 2016 and again in 2022-highlighting her exceptional ability to dominate on this venue. The upcoming weekend at Semmering will feature a giant slalom on Saturday followed by a slalom on Sunday, offering her a chance to extend her winning streak.
Record-Breaking 105 World Cup Wins
With 105 World Cup victories, Shiffrin’s record spans multiple disciplines. She has secured 22 World Cup giant slalom titles, a record in that event. Her seven victories at Semmering alone represent a significant portion of her overall tally, underscoring the importance of that resort to her career legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Shiffrin’s slalom season is marked by five straight wins, with a 1.5-second average margin of victory.
- Giant slalom results have been hampered by a crash-related injury, but she has finished fourth twice this season.
- A recent super-G run in St. Moritz shows progress toward an Olympic super-G program.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s combination of resilience, mental acuity, and sheer speed keeps her at the forefront of alpine skiing as the Olympic season unfolds. Her continued success across disciplines, coupled with her record-setting performances at Semmering, positions her as a key contender for multiple medals at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
