Mikaela Shiffrin, 27, made handsome alpine skiing history on Saturday, when he single-handedly took first place in the all-time victory statistics at the World Cup. The American woman has won a total of 87 times.
He became a Swedish legend with his super slalom victory on Friday By Ingemar Stenmark alongside. On Saturday, Shiffrin won the slalom race held in Åre, Sweden, by almost a second.
During his career, Shiffrin has won, among other things, seven world championships and two Olympic gold medals. He has won the overall World Cup five times.
Shiffrin’s last few years have included several record breaking events. Shiffrin, who excels especially in slalom, is the skier who has won the most World Cup championships in one alpine sport. In January, he rose from the ground Lindsey Vonn’s became the female skier with the most World Cup wins of all time.
The most recent win was his 13th this season. Shiffrin has accomplished more wins in a single season only in 2018-19. At that time, he achieved no less than 17 World Cup first places.
Sports expert Kalle Palander has been skeptical of Shiffrin’s record chances.
– In the gang’s opinion, he no longer had motivation when he had a couple of calmer seasons. No one could have imagined that he would win like hell this season. The fact that he can still be so superior is something incomprehensible.
Physically in top condition
The period after the 2019-2020 season was difficult for Shiffrin. His father Jeff suffered a fatal head injury in early 2020.
There were enough challenges on the slope. In last year’s Olympics, Shiffrin dropped out in both the slalom and the super slalom.
Recently, a boyfriend has been a significant supporter of the superstar Aleksander Aamodt Kildewhich has been successful as a pacemaker.
– He (Kilde) must have calmed down his civilian life and brought a life outside the slopes after difficult years. When the Olympics went under the bench, many wondered if Shiffrin would be able to get up from it again.
According to Palander, Shiffrin’s performance this season can be explained by his physical capacity.
– He is able to be in really good shape physically. He is absolutely superior in the final parts of the tracks.
Shiffrin has also avoided serious injuries.
– There are a lot of injuries in today’s alpine skiing. He has no cruciate ligament injury. He is physically so fit that he doesn’t even get hurt.
Superstars of two different eras
Shiffrin is often compared to Stenmark. The common argument is that times were so different.
Palander is also on the same lines. During Stenmark’s era, there were fewer games.
– I’m not comparing them in any way. I would rather compare her to Lindsey Vonn. Stenmark’s dominance in just two sports is tough. Of course, this is the opinion of a male athlete.
– Today’s sport is much stricter than it was back then. On the other hand, Stenmark’s superiority was so absurd. They are athletes from such a different era.
Shiffrin turns 28 on Monday. He has achieved everything during his career.
Shiffrin’s motivation has been questioned for a few years. Could Shiffrin be motivated by, for example, the milestone of a hundred World Cup victories?
– I myself would have pulled off the number tag, thrown away my skis, left the finish area for a walk and stated that call me a helicopter, I am the greatest alpine skiing hero ever, Palander says.
– It is difficult to say about such an athlete who has good years left for his age. He has everything that can be achieved in alpine skiing. Still hungry? I don’t know if it opens up from that and he’s just so over the top.