LEVI, Finland — Mikaela Shiffrin kicked off the Olympic slalom season with an impressive victory in a World Cup race, marking her 102nd career win. She built an incredible first-run lead of over a second and maintained her speed, finishing 1.66 seconds ahead of Lara Colturi, who came in second.
“I felt really strong on both runs,” Shiffrin said, adding that she aimed to push herself rather than play it safe. “If you’re going for it, you can’t mess it up.” This mindset has clearly paid off, allowing her to capture another win.
Colturi, competing for Albania but originally from Italy, celebrated her career-best finish on her 19th birthday. Emma Aicher, an all-rounder from Germany, placed third, achieving her first podium spot in a tech race. Shiffrin’s teammate, Paula Moltzan, who showed resilience by rising to fourth after a slower first run, was thrilled with her performance. “I knew I needed to find more time,” she said, praising her second run.
After two races, Shiffrin and Moltzan are ranked first and second overall. This performance comes after a change in Shiffrin’s strategy following a tough year, where she focused on limited events leading into the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Notably, she aims to highlight her strengths in slalom and giant slalom.
Shiffrin has secured nine wins in this season-opening slalom in Lapland, a location.
The rich history of slalom skiing at this venue is evident. No one else has claimed victory here since Shiffrin and Petra Vlhova started their dominant streak. In fact, 2022 Olympic champion Vlhova is still sidelined with a knee injury she sustained last year.
This year’s competition emphasizes the unique spirit of slalom racing, where a reindeer is awarded as a prize to the winner. As Shiffrin prepares for future events, her blend of experience and focus suggests she might achieve even more, cementing her status in ski history.
With her sights set on the upcoming races in Austria, fans eagerly anticipate how she will build upon this electrifying start to the season.
