American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has spectacularly returned to top form by securing her record-extending 102nd Alpine Ski World Cup victory in the season's opening slalom race in Levi, Finland.
Triumphant Return After Serious Injury
The 30-year-old Olympic champion delivered a commanding performance that saw her finish 1.66 seconds clear of second-placed Lara Colturi from Albania, who celebrated her 19th birthday on race day. Germany's Emma Aicher completed the podium, marking her first-ever World Cup top-three finish.
This victory represents a remarkable comeback for Shiffrin, who missed a significant portion of last season following a serious crash in November 2024 during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont. The incident resulted in an abdominal puncture wound and severe muscle trauma, keeping her away from competition until January.
Historic Achievement and Traditional Prize
Shiffrin demonstrated her complete recovery by posting the fastest times in both runs, continuing her dominance in the technical discipline where 65 of her 102 World Cup wins have now been achieved in slalom events.
The victory in the Arctic Circle resort earned Shiffrin her ninth reindeer - the traditional prize awarded to winners in Levi. She already maintains a herd of eight near the Lapland resort, each with names including Rudolph, Sven, and Mr Gru.
Building Momentum for Olympic Glory
"I trusted the training and the great work over the summer," Shiffrin commented after her victory. "It was really nice to race today. This season it's important to start with a really good mentality. I'm just super happy. This is starting to feel more like home."
This performance builds on her historic achievement in February when she became the first skier in history, male or female, to reach 100 World Cup victories, achieving the milestone in Sestriere.
With the Milan-Cortina Olympics on the horizon, Shiffrin's dominant start to the season positions her as a strong contender for her third Olympic gold medal. Her career statistics now show an impressive spread across disciplines: 22 wins in giant slalom, four in downhill, five in super-G, five in parallel events, and one in combined.
