Mikaela Shiffrin has once again redefined dominance in Alpine skiing, securing a monumental 105th World Cup victory with another commanding performance in the slalom. The American superstar didn't just win Tuesday's night race in the French Alps; she decimated the field, finishing a staggering 1.55 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
A Season of Unmatched Supremacy
This victory marks Shiffrin's fourth consecutive slalom win at the start of the current Olympic season, extending a streak that includes the final race of the previous campaign. More impressively, every single one of her winning margins this season has been over a full second. Her dominance is quantified by substantial gaps: 1.66 seconds in Levi, Finland; 1.23 seconds in Gurgl, Austria; 1.57 seconds in Copper Mountain, Colorado; and now 1.55 seconds in France.
Shiffrin capitalised on a chaotic first run that saw several top contenders fail to finish. She then extended her lead in the second run, ultimately claiming the podium ahead of Switzerland's Camille Rast (second) and Germany's Emma Aicher (third). This triumph also represents her 68th World Cup win in the slalom discipline alone.
Challengers Falter in Pursuit
The race underscored the immense pressure Shiffrin's form places on her competitors. A series of errors and mishaps plagued those trying to challenge her. Germany's Lena Duerr, third after the initial run, skied off course early in her second attempt. Defending World Cup slalom champion Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia and Olympic silver medallist Katharina Liensberger both failed to finish, with Ljutic recording her third straight slalom DNF (Did Not Finish).
Albanian skier Lara Colturi, who had been on a podium streak, straddled a gate. In a dramatic incident, Switzerland's Wendy Holdener hit a hole in the finish area, was thrown into the air, and landed on her back. She recovered to complete the second run, finishing seventh.
Historical Context and Olympic Horizon
Shiffrin's latest achievement further cements her status as the most successful skier in World Cup history. Her accolades include slalom gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and giant slalom gold in Pyeongchang in 2018, though she left the 2022 Beijing Games without a medal.
All eyes now turn to the next Winter Olympics, where women's Alpine skiing will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy—a venue where Shiffrin excelled at the 2021 World Championships. The news comes as another legend, Lindsey Vonn, makes a remarkable comeback in downhill at age 41, though Vonn no longer competes in slalom.
With such commanding form, Mikaela Shiffrin is not merely participating in races this season; she is setting a standard of excellence that appears increasingly untouchable as the world builds towards the next Olympic Games.
