On Tuesday, the skier Mikaela Shiffrin made history by winning her 83rd World Cup race, becoming the most successful female skier in history. Her win at the giant slalom race at Kronplatz in Italy broke Lindsey Vonn’s previous record of 82 wins and puts her just four wins away from breaking the overall World Cup record held by Ingemar Stenmark.
Mikaela Shiffrin is an American alpine ski racer. She is considered one of the most successful ski racers of all time, having won multiple World Cup titles, Olympic medals, and World Championship medals. She began her career as a prodigy in her early teens, and is the daughter of two competitive skiers who began honing her skills on the small, 300-foot vertical drop at Storrs Hill in New Hampshire when she was just 8 years old.
A Slalom Specialist
Shiffrin is a slalom specialist, while Vonn specialized in speed races. Despite their different specialties, Vonn has been a role model for Shiffrin and her record was considered one of the most unbreakable records in skiing. Shiffrin’s win on Tuesday not only broke Vonn’s record but also extended her lead in the giant slalom standings for the current World Cup season, solidifying her position as the top skier in that discipline.
Overcoming Adversity
Alpine skiing has a very high injury rate, and almost every racer at some point experiences something that can potentially damage their careers. Thankfully Shiffrin has managed to avoid that fate so far, still, she recently mentioned she felt nervous but just pushed as hard as she could.
Despite achieving many milestones in her career, Mikaela Shiffrin’s performance at the Beijing Olympics last year was a major disappointment as she was unable to win a medal or even complete most of her races. Despite this setback, she still managed to win the overall World Cup title for 2022 and won a downhill race just weeks after the Olympics. Her mother and coach, Eileen Shiffrin, stated that the disappointment in Beijing was a turning point for her personal growth and that it will provide valuable lessons for the future.
The Future
Shiffrin brought in a new trainer and technician before this season, because more than winning 83 more ski races, she wants to find peace in the process.
After achieving her 80th win, Mikaela Shiffrin took a moment to reflect on the significance of her accomplishment and shared with her mother that despite what some may believe, winning does not come easy. She emphasized that each win required a great deal of effort and that she could easily not win another race. Despite these doubts, it seems unlikely as she had already won 80 out of her 230 starts, a 35% win rate across all five disciplines in a sport where top skiers can go years between victories.
Breaking the Record
Shiffrin’s win on Tuesday not only broke the record for most World Cup wins by a female skier but also moved her closer to breaking the overall World Cup record held by Ingemar Stenmark. Stenmark’s record of 86 World Cup wins has stood since 1989 and is considered one of the most unbreakable records in skiing. Shiffrin is now just four wins away from breaking Stenmark’s record, and if she does, she will become the most successful skier in World Cup history, male or female.
Shiffrin’s record-breaking win is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and perseverance, not only as a skier but also as a person. Her accomplishment is not only an inspiration for young skiers but for all athletes and individuals who face adversity and overcome it. Shiffrin’s record-breaking win is a defining moment in skiing history and it will be remembered for years to come. With four more wins, she will become the most successful skier in World Cup history, breaking the record currently held by Ingemar Stenmark.
