American Skier Shiffrin Wins Record 83rd World Cup Race

SAN VIGILIO DI MAREBBE, Italy — Tiredness. Relief. Satisfaction.

Mikaela Shiffrin, an American skier, felt all that and more after winning her 83rd World Cup race on Tuesday.

Shiffrin’s giant slalom victory broke a tie for first place on the all-time women’s list with former American teammate Lindsey Vonn, who retired four years ago due to injuries.

“I don’t think there are words to express everything,” Shiffrin said. “At the end, it’s almost as if there’s too much excitement to feel. I’m not sure if that makes sense. So it’s something you’re unable to explain. So I try to relax and enjoy it.”

Shiffrin now only needs three more victories to equal Ingemar Stenmark’s overall record of 86 victories (male and female). Stenmark raced in the 1970s and 1980s.

Shiffrin Lead The Pack

Shiffrin led from start to finish at Kronplatz in the Italian Dolomites, finishing 0.45 seconds ahead of world champion Lara Gut-Behrami and 1.43 seconds ahead of home favorite and former overall champion Federica Brignone.

Shiffrin had the fastest first run and thus was the last skier to compete in the second run.

“I was a little nervous for the second run, but I hate waiting,” Shiffrin explained. “Finally, when it was time to go, then it was like everything went quiet, and I just pushed as hard as I could every turn. Coming through the finish line and seeing how fast I was amazing. Because I could hear the other competitors skiing well. ‘I could lose this, so I should try to ski a good run,’ I reasoned. That it was.”

Shiffrin appeared exhausted and relieved immediately after finishing, bending over and resting her head on her poles before kissing Gut-Behrami and Brignone.

“Congratulations,” Brignone said to Shiffrin, who replied, “Oh my god.”

Celebrating Other Team Mates

Unlike when she burst into tears after matching Vonn’s record of 82 victories earlier this month in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Shiffrin maintained her cool during the playing of her national anthem, singing along to the lyrics.

A gold-colored crown was then placed on top of her head.

Shiffrin’s ninth victory of the season.

Furthermore, Shiffrin is still only 27 years old and could have many more years of elite racing ahead of her. Vonn was 33 at the time of her last World Cup victory, while Stenmark was 32.

“I just feel so fortunate to be her teammate in this era and to watch her break history every day,” Nina O’Brien, the only other American finisher in 18th, said. “She’s also been very encouraging.”

Paula Moltzan, an American skier, was fifth after the first run but fell midway through her second run, losing her balance and twisting around before sliding down the mountain.

Most Successful Skier In History

The achievement comes nearly a year after Shiffrin failed to win a medal in six events at the Beijing Olympics, despite high expectations. She didn’t take long to recover from her performance in Beijing, winning her fourth World Cup.

She is the most successful female skier in history.

“That’s a pretty good image for the sport, for women’s Alpine skiers,” said GS world champion Tessa Worley. “And she’s still doing incredible things. So it serves as motivation for us to keep going.”

Shiffrin had to learn how to deal with the nerves that come with taking the lead in the first run.

“It’s still difficult for me to believe that I have the mental focus to be strong again in the second run,” she said. “That’s not something I take for granted.”

She Finished Quickly

Shiffrin began her second run immediately after Gut-Behrami had taken a commanding lead.

“I saw her from the start, and then I was thinking, ‘Why did I watch? That’s too fast for me.’ So I was a little wild in some spots, but it felt so clean,” Shiffrin explained. “I expected to be close but not faster. And then, somehow, I made it to the end, and it was quite good.”

Shiffrin can quickly add to her record total in another giant slalom on Wednesday at Kronplatz. Then she has two slaloms in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, next weekend — her best event, accounting for 51 of her 83 victories. Shiffrin made her World Cup debut there as a 15-year-old in March 2011.

If she wins her next three races, she could catch Stenmark by Sunday.

Shiffrin will be a medal contender again at the world championships in Courchevel and Meribel, France, which begin on February 6.