Shiffrin Extends Dominance with Historic 103rd World Cup Win
American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has further cemented her legendary status by securing her record-extending 103rd Alpine World Cup victory during Sunday's slalom event in the picturesque Austrian resort of Gurgl. The 30-year-old Olympian delivered another commanding performance that solidifies her position as the favourite for gold at February's Winter Olympics.
Comfortable Victory Margin Against Tough Competition
Shiffrin demonstrated why she's considered the world's premier slalom skier, building a substantial lead during the first run where she finished 0.31 seconds faster than her closest rival, Albania's Lara Colturi. The American star didn't relent in the second run, posting the quickest time again to extend her final advantage to an impressive 1.23 seconds.
The podium mirrored both last season's Gurgl slalom results and the current season's opening event in Levi, Finland. Nineteen-year-old Colturi, the Italian-born daughter of 2002 Olympic Super-G champion Daniela Ceccarelli, claimed second place for Albania, while Switzerland's reigning world champion Camille Rast completed the top three.
Shiffrin's Reflections and Future Plans
"I had to push so hard but it was really nice with the sun on the second run," Shiffrin commented after her victory. "Last year I remember it was so dark so this was a really nice surprise. The conditions were pretty much exactly how I expected - not easy, but I knew the others were pushing so there's no choice, you have to go."
This triumph marks Shiffrin's third consecutive World Cup slalom victory, having also won the final slalom of last season. Her incredible career tally now includes 66 World Cup slalom wins, another record in the discipline where she reigns supreme.
The event saw disappointments for other contenders, including Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic, last season's slalom crystal globe winner, who straddled a gate on her second run. Austria's Katharina Liensberger, the Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medallist, failed to complete her first run.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin expressed excitement about returning to American soil for the next women's technical circuit races in Copper Mountain, Colorado. "I have to get some giant slalom training again and I'm really excited to go to Copper," she said. "I'll stay in my own bed for the first time during the season."
