Mikaela Shiffrin Claims Historic 100th World Cup Victory
Mikaela Shiffrin etched her name into the annals of alpine skiing history on January 24, 2023, when she secured her 100th World Cup victory in the slalom at Sestrières, Italy. The American became the first skier, male or female, to achieve this remarkable milestone.
A Dominant Slalom Performance
Shiffrin, 29, narrowly won the first run and solidified her lead in the second descent. Her rivals, Croatian Zrinka Ljutic and American Paula Moltzan, finished on the podium behind her. Shiffrin’s triumph was aided by the unfortunate fall of one of her main contenders, Swiss skier Camille Rast, the reigning 2025 slalom world champion and current leader of the World Cup standings. Rast crashed heavily after straddling a gate towards the end of the first run.
Overcoming Adversity
Shiffrin’s victory marked a significant moment in her season, which had been marred by a challenging period since her fall in the giant slalom at Killington, United States, in late November 2024. The crash resulted in an abdominal injury that sidelined her from competition for two months.
Despite winning the world title in the team event with her compatriot Breezy Johnson in Saalbach, Austria, on February 11, Shiffrin could only manage a disappointing 5th place in the slalom. Her struggles continued in the giant slalom, as evidenced by her 33rd-place finish the day before.
A Legacy of Excellence
Shiffrin, a five-time overall World Cup champion, surpassed the long-standing victory record of Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark (86) in early 2023. Since her World Cup debut in March 2011, she has accumulated an impressive tally of 63 slalom wins, 22 giant slalom victories, 5 super-G triumphs, 5 parallel victories, 4 downhill wins, and 1 combined victory. Notably, slalom remains her signature discipline.
Italian skier Federica Brignone, the current World Cup overall leader, does not participate in World Cup slaloms. Marie Lamure was the lone French skier to qualify for the second run and finished in 19th place.
Upcoming World Cup Schedule
The World Cup circuit continues on February 28 in Kvitfjell, Norway, with two downhill races and a super-G event.
