Shiffrin locks up overall title, still chases 86th win

KVITFJELL, Norway — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin accomplished what she called “the big, big goal for me this season.”

But it wasn’t a record-tying 86th career victory.

Shiffrin on Saturday locked up her fifth overall World Cup title, widely regarded as ski racing’s biggest prize, by tying for fifth place in a downhill.

“That’s really amazing. That (overall title) was like the big, big goal for me this season,” Shiffrin said. “I had such a big focus on it that I was even talking about it in interviews in the beginning of the season. Normally I don’t talk about it so much because it takes a long time to figure out if you can do it.”

The American’s quest for another race win was extended by at least another day, as she was set to compete in a super-g Sunday.

Shiffrin needs one victory to match Ingemar Stenmark ’s total on the alltime overall winners list — between men and women. The Swede competed in the 1970s and 80s.

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.

Saturday’s race was won by home favorite Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, who became the first Norwegian woman to win a downhill in the 56-year history of World Cup skiing.

Sofia Goggia finished 0.29 seconds behind in second as the Italian secured the season-long downhill title again.

Olympic champion Corinne Suter and two-time former world champion Ilka Stuhec placed third and fourth, respectively.

Shiffrin and Austrian skier Ramona Siebenhofer both finished 0.79 seconds behind Lie.