87. Victory makes them unique
Shiffrin now sits alone on the ski throne
03/11/2023, 4:30 p.m
She can’t stop partying: Mikaela Shiffrin is the sole record holder in the ski circus. A day after she has caught up with the legendary Ingemar Stenmark after World Cup victories, she is already passing. The American also finds this “incredible”.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s mouth was open at first. She looked breathlessly at the scoreboard, she saw the bold “1” next to her name, but she didn’t seem to have the strength to celebrate at first. The 87th victory in the World Cup, the new, almost unimaginable record set – the American seemed overwhelmed by this moment, which had been looming for weeks, but at least since her 86th victory the day before.
On Friday, Shiffrin in Are, Sweden, where she had her first World Cup victory in December 2012, initially set the record set by Swede Ingemar Stenmark. After the success in the giant slalom, less than 24 hours later and exactly twelve years to the day after her World Cup debut, which also took place in Are, as was almost to be expected, she also took first place in the slalom. “It’s incredible,” she said with a smile on her face.
Dürr thinks Shiffrin is “simply crazy”
The ride to the record was befitting of the moment and worthy of a ski queen: two runs close to perfection on treacherous snow, Shiffrin ended up 0.92 seconds ahead of Wendy Holdener of Switzerland and 0.95 seconds ahead of Anna Swenn Larsson of Sweden . The latter immediately stormed towards the new record holder and yelled at her that it was all “insane”, that is, totally crazy. In fact: twelve years, 87 victories – and no end in sight.
“Hats off, having this consistency in so many disciplines over the years is just crazy,” said Lena Dürr, who finished sixth after two good runs, about Shiffrin on ZDF. The World Cup third party was able to temporarily stop the American woman’s record hunt in the last slalom before the World Cup in Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic, and Dürr had to fight in Are. “The podium is already far away,” she said – actually it was 1.08 seconds.
Dürr still has a chance of her fifth podium finish this winter – she is qualified for the slalom at the World Cup final in Andorra on Wednesday. The top 25 in the current World Cup standings can take part in the final: Dürr is fourth there. She will be accompanied to the Pyrenees by Emma Aicher, a strong eleventh in the race and 20th in the World Cup – and by Jessica Hilzinger, who was 20th in the race and just about 25th in the World Cup.