- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,212
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
US' Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates victory during the women's slalom competition of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in World Cup Spindleruv Mlyn. Taneèek David/CTK/dpa
Mikaela Shiffrin was in a league of her own again in a slalom on Sunday and with the latest victory continued to rewrite the alpine skiing record books by clinching a ninth World Cup title in the discipline with two races to spare.
American Shiffrin extended an already big first run lead for victory in Spindleruv Mlyn with a huge margin of 1.67 seconds over Swiss Camille Rast and 2.18 seconds clear of German allrounder Emma Aicher in third.
“I felt really good on the first run, it was good skiing. A little bit of risk, which was exciting," she said. "This gap isn’t there every race. Every race is a little bit different."
It was Shiffrin's 108th career win and the 71st in the slalom, both record extending marks. She has won seven of eight season slaloms and came second behind Rast in the other. She holds an unassailable lead of 288 points over Rast.
With the ninth slalom title, Shiffrin moved one ahead of compatriot Lindsey Vonn and Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark, who won eight crystal globes in downhill and slalom, respectively.
"I don’t have so many words right now, this whole day I was not really thinking about the Globe,” she said. “I knew coming to this race that It could be possible, but there were so many things to focus on."
Shiffrin now has 17 World Cup globes for her career, and leading Rast by 170 points is on course for a women's record equalling sixth overall title.
Shiffrin is also the top favourite for the Olympic slalom at next month's Milan/Cortina Games. She won slalom gold in 2014, giant slalom gold and alpine combined silver in 2018 but failed to medal in 2022.
But she said in general terms regarding her apparent invincibility: “It’s wonderful to be consistent and fast, but every time I ski, I feel like I could be flying off the course at any moment. So it takes a lot of effort and intensity and focus. It’s always very exciting when I’m in the finish.”
The last women's races before the Olympics are a downhill on Friday and a super-g on Saturday at the Swiss venue of Crans-Montana.
Continue reading...
