Hafjell, Norway (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin made history by securing her sixth overall World Cup skiing title, matching the record set by Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll. This achievement came after a thrilling season finale where Shiffrin faced strong competition from Germany’s Emma Aicher.
Shiffrin only needed a top 15 finish in the giant slalom race. She claimed 11th place, while Aicher needed a win to have any chance of taking the title from her. Aicher finished in 12th after a critical mistake during her second run.
“It’s quite emotional,” Shiffrin shared. “This reflects a whole season of hard work. Emma showed outstanding skiing today.” Reflecting on Aicher’s potential, she stated, “The coolest thing about ski racing is that anything can happen.”
Despite being positioned 17th after her first run, Shiffrin roared back, taking the lead in the second run, and her result sealed the title when the next racers couldn’t match her time. After learning she had won, Shiffrin fell to her knees, seemingly overwhelmed with joy and disbelief.
Aicher’s performance put the pressure on Shiffrin, who admitted, “I had moments where I thought I might not score any points.” Following Aicher’s error, which cost her speed, Shiffrin felt grateful for how things turned out.
Shiffrin’s latest title adds to her impressive record. She won three consecutive championships from 2017 to 2019 and captured back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Lindsey Vonn ranks next with four titles, and at 31, Shiffrin isn’t planning to stop soon. “I’m excited for the next season,” she noted.
This year also saw Valerie Grenier from Canada claiming her third World Cup victory. She maintained her lead to finish first, while fellow competitors Mina Fuerst Holtmann and Julia Scheib followed closely behind.
Shiffrin ended the season with an impressive 1,410 points, 87 points ahead of Aicher (1,323 points). Her stellar season included dominating slalom races and winning her third Olympic gold in February. With a record 110 World Cup victories, she stands well ahead of any other skier.
Emma Aicher, just 22, is emerging as a versatile talent in skiing. The only current skier competing across every event type, Aicher has set her sights on her first Overall title after earning medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Her parentage—a Swedish mother and German father—adds to her unique background in the sport.
The U.S. women’s team won the Nations Cup for the first time since 1982, largely due to Shiffrin’s and Vonn’s contributions. This season, the team notched up an impressive 11 World Cup wins and 27 podium finishes. U.S. Ski & Snowboard chief Anouk Patty praised the team’s collective effort, emphasizing that everyone’s role was vital to their success.
The focus on teamwork resonates with the spirit of skiing, and Shiffrin’s recent achievements inspire hopes for the future, both for her and for the next generation of skiers.
For more on alpine skiing, check out AP News Alpine Skiing.
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Mikaela Shiffrin, Emma Aicher, Alpine skiing, Annemarie Moser-Prll, Lindsey Vonn, 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games, Paula Moltzan, Sports, Valerie Grenier, Marcel Hirscher, Ingemar Stenmark, Julia Scheib, Cindy Nelson, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Christin Cooper, Anouk Patty, Jacqueline Wiles, Tamara McKinney
