American alpine skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has commenced the Olympic season with an extraordinary display of dominance, establishing an unblemished record in World Cup slalom events. Securing four consecutive victories, she signals a formidable return to peak performance across multiple disciplines, intensifying her preparations for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. This commanding start firmly positions her as a leading contender and a athlete to watch.
Shiffrin’s flawless run in slalom has been particularly striking, with the athlete consistently outpacing her rivals by significant margins, averaging 1.5 seconds per race. This remarkable consistency not only showcases her current form but also positions her to potentially match her career-best start in the discipline, having previously won the first five slaloms of the 2018-19 season. Her unparalleled command on the course highlights an exceptional ability to swiftly recover from any mid-run disruptions, maintaining relentless pace.
Despite the apparent ease of her victories, Shiffrin herself acknowledges the immense mental and physical effort required to maintain such an elite level. “Every single time I stand in the start it’s like a new situation and I found a way so far,” she stated, emphasizing the continuous need to “dig really deep to find that quality skiing.” Her profound ability to “feel when I have a disruption in my momentum and then in my mind it is like a gas pedal” speaks to her advanced control and tactical prowess during a run.
The skiing star is now set to return to Semmering, Austria, a venue where she has historically excelled, claiming seven of her record 105 World Cup victories. Shiffrin has twice achieved a triple victory at this specific resort, in both 2016 and 2022, underscoring her affinity for its challenging slopes. The upcoming weekend slate offers further opportunities to extend her impressive tally, with a giant slalom scheduled for Saturday, followed by a pivotal slalom race on Sunday.
Shiffrin’s current wave of success follows a challenging period marked by significant crashes and a subsequent battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from a fall in Killington, Vermont, last season. That particular incident resulted in a deep puncture wound and severe trauma to her oblique muscles, impacting her performance in the latter half of the previous season. Despite these substantial physical and mental setbacks, she has demonstrated steady and determined progress in giant slalom, securing two commendable fourth-place finishes this season, and recently made a significant return to super-G competition.
Her recent participation in a super-G event in St. Moritz, Switzerland, marked her first speed race since a severe crash in a downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo nearly two years prior. Though she narrowly missed the final gate, this entry represented a crucial rehabilitative step towards her ambitious goal of incorporating super-G into her Olympic program for the Milan Cortina Games. Shiffrin views achieving a strong return to World Cup super-G form as a major personal objective, asserting its importance independent of Olympic considerations.
Looking ahead to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Shiffrin, already a two-time Olympic gold medalist—having won slalom in 2014 and giant slalom in 2018—could potentially compete in up to four events. These include slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and the recently introduced team combined event. She and downhill teammate Breezy Johnson notably secured gold in the team combined at last season’s world championships, further showcasing her versatility and potential for additional Olympic glory across diverse disciplines.
The team combined format, which involves one racer competing in a downhill run and a teammate completing a slalom run with combined times determining the result, adds another strategic dimension to the Olympic schedule. Shiffrin’s proven ability in both technical and speed events, coupled with strong partnerships, positions her well for this dynamic format. This comprehensive approach to competition highlights her ambition to leave a lasting legacy in alpine skiing.
