American superstar extends World Cup lead with commanding win in Austria
Mikaela Shiffrin continues to set an extraordinary standard in women’s alpine skiing, opening the Olympic season with two consecutive slalom victories and reaffirming her status as the sport’s most consistent and dominant performer. On Sunday, the American icon delivered another clinical performance in the Austrian Alps, securing her second straight slalom win and strengthening her grip on the overall World Cup standings.
Racing under clear skies in bright but chilly conditions, Shiffrin was untouchable from the first gate to the last. She posted the fastest time in both runs and crossed the finish line in 1:48.11, finishing comfortably 1.23 seconds ahead of rising star Lara Colturi, the Italian-born skier who now represents Albania. It was a result that mirrored the previous week’s showdown in Finland, where Shiffrin also finished first with Colturi once again in second.
Clinical precision and unmatched consistency
Shiffrin’s victory was not simply another line on her already remarkable résumé. It marked her 66th career World Cup slalom win and her 103rd overall, both record-breaking milestones that reinforce her position as one of the greatest alpine skiers in history.
“Honestly, I think this was some of the best slalom skiing I’ve ever done,” Shiffrin said after the race. “I knew the others were pushing and the conditions were challenging, so I had no choice but to go all in.”
After a tightly contested opening run in which she led Colturi by just 0.31 seconds, Shiffrin shifted into another gear on her second descent. Her aggressive yet technically flawless approach through the final section saw her more than quadruple her advantage, demonstrating both her confidence and adaptability on a demanding course.
Perfect balance of aggression and control
Shiffrin’s second run showcased her trademark blend of speed and precision. While others struggled with the changing surface and increasing pressure, she remained composed, fluid and relentless, maintaining clean lines through the gates and maximizing every opportunity to gain time.
“I had to push so hard, especially on the second run,” she explained. “But with the sun coming out and the rhythm feeling right, it just came together the way I hoped.”
Colturi emerging as Shiffrin’s closest rival
At just 17, Lara Colturi is fast becoming the most compelling challenger to Shiffrin’s dominance. Representing Albania despite her Italian roots, Colturi has now finished second behind Shiffrin for the second consecutive week, solidifying her place near the top of the standings.
She once again showed remarkable maturity and composure, navigating the technical course with confidence. While she could not match Shiffrin’s pace, her consistent podium finishes underline her rapid development and growing presence on the World Cup circuit.
Swiss slalom world champion Camille Rast completed the podium in third with a two-run total of 1:49.52, trailing Shiffrin by 1.41 seconds. The top three mirrored the podium at last season’s race in Gurgl, highlighting a familiar hierarchy at the start of the season.
Leading the overall World Cup standings
With two straight slalom wins, Shiffrin now tops both the slalom discipline standings and the overall World Cup rankings after three events. Colturi sits second in both categories, with American teammate Paula Moltzan also placing herself firmly in contention after a solid fifth-place finish on Sunday.
Moltzan’s performance continues her strong start to the season, following her runner-up result in the opening giant slalom race in October. That event was won by Austrian Julia Scheib, further illustrating the competitive depth of this season’s field.
Strong Canadian showing led by St-Germain
Canada’s Laurence St-Germain delivered a commendable performance, finishing 11th among 26 racers who completed both runs. After struggling in the opening leg and sitting 24th with a time of 57.13 seconds, the Quebec native staged an impressive comeback in the second run.
Her time of 54.22 seconds in the final leg was the third fastest of the run, trailing only Shiffrin and Austria’s Katharina Truppe. The surge saw her climb 13 positions, underlining her resilience and technical strength in changing conditions.
St-Germain’s performance offers optimism for Canadian fans as the season progresses toward the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, where consistency and momentum will be crucial.
A confident return to home snow in Colorado
Shiffrin now turns her attention to Copper Mountain, Colorado, where she will compete in a giant slalom followed by another slalom next weekend. The venue holds personal significance as a regular training base for the U.S. ski team.
“I’m really excited to go to Copper,” Shiffrin said. “It’ll be the first time this season I get to sleep in my own bed. That makes a huge difference during such an intense schedule.”
The upcoming races will also follow two men’s events at the same venue, placing additional focus on American skiers performing on home soil.
Focused preparation and reduced schedule
Ahead of the current season, Shiffrin announced she would scale back her racing calendar, prioritizing slalom and giant slalom with the possibility of selective super-G appearances. This decision was made following a difficult previous season that included a serious crash while chasing her 100th career win.
The fall occurred in Killington, Vermont, during a giant slalom race, sidelining her for two months. Although she returned to win twice afterward, the incident forced her to reassess her approach going into the Olympic year.
“I was so focused on giant slalom during the prep period, trying to get my level back to where it belongs,” she said. “I didn’t get as much slalom training as usual, but the quality of that training was really good.”
That strategy now appears to be paying off, as she begins the season in commanding form across both technical disciplines.
Historical consistency ahead of the Olympics
Last season saw Shiffrin also open with two slalom wins in Levi and Gurgl before her unfortunate crash halted her momentum. This year’s stronger start, paired with controlled scheduling, suggests a more sustainable path toward peak form for February’s Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina.
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, won slalom gold in 2014 and giant slalom gold in 2018, making her one of the most decorated and reliable athletes in Olympic winter sports history. Her current performances indicate she remains the benchmark against which all others are measured.
Growing anticipation for the season ahead
With Shiffrin and Colturi emerging as the early front-runners, the women’s slalom season is shaping up to be both predictable in brilliance and exciting in competition. While Shiffrin’s dominance remains formidable, the emergence of younger talent adds intrigue and narrative depth as the season progresses.
As the World Cup caravan moves forward, the eyes of the skiing world will remain fixed on Shiffrin’s pursuit of further records and consistency, particularly as she prepares for another run at Olympic glory.
Her latest victory not only reinforces her supremacy but also signals to competitors that, even with a trimmed schedule and calculated approach, she remains as fierce and focused as ever — still the gold standard in slalom skiing.
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