Shiffrin’s sights still set on 86 wins
Quest moves to record-holder Stenmark’s Sweden
Mikaela Shiffrin ‘s quest to tie Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 career World Cup victories now moves to his home country.
Shiffrin’s next race is a giant slalom in Are on Friday, as the American skier seeks one victory to match Stenmark ‘s total on the alltime overall winners list — between men and women. The Swede competed in the 1970s and 80s.
Are was also the venue of Shiffrin’s first career win, in December 2012.
Shiffrin rounded off a three-race weekend in Norway Sunday by finishing in seventh position at a super-g affected by changing weather conditions. The American was fourth in a super-g Friday and fifth in a downhill the following day to lock up her fifth World Cup overall title.
On Sunday, Shiffrin was among the early starters when low clouds caused flat light and snowfall slowed most racers before later starters benefited from improved conditions when skies cleared.
Wearing bib 31, Nina Ortlieb led an Austrian sweep of the podium ahead of Stephanie Venier, who started 29th, and Franziska Gritsch, who started 26th.
“It’s slow with the snow on the flat part,” Shiffrin said. “But I also felt very strong down there pushing the limits, so I’m super happy with my run.”
Shiffrin broke a tie on the all-time women’s list with former American teammate Lindsey Vonn in January.
Vonn had 82 wins when she retired in 2019.
Shiffrin has been stuck on 85 World Cup wins for four events now, and the American didn’t got a real chance Sunday to end the wait.
“The conditions are changing so much, it’s not one of those days where I can really compare myself to what’s going on with the results,” Shiffrin said.
“But my skiing was good, I was aggressive, so I’m actually really happy with that. In this group of women going around me, to be kind of this fast, that was a really, really good sign.”
Sofia Goggia was the first racer from the top 20-ranked skiers in fourth position, trailing Ortlieb by 0.69 seconds.
The Italian, who locked up the downhill season title Saturday, looked set for victory when sitting in the leader seat after all other pre-race favorites were down.
“I’m happy with my ski performance but the race has changed too much,” Goggia said. “We came down with criminal conditions and now there’s the sun and everything’s really fast.”
Ortlieb acknowledged the conditions gave her an advantage.
“Unbelievable. I knew at the start the conditions were getting better and better,” the Austrian said. “I was lucky. I’m sure that it was not fair for everyone, but I got the opportunity and I think I skied well.”
Right after finishing, Ortlieb looked around in apparent disbelief, then shook her head a few times.
“A little crazy to see the green light in the finish. I was a little bit confused, but it’s amazing,” said Ortlieb, who was only 29th in Friday’s super-g on the same course.