Mikaela Shiffrin won World Cup race No. 87 on Saturday, breaking Ingemar Stenmark’s record to become the all-time winningest alpine skier in history.
Babe wake up, @MikaelaShiffrin just won No. 87 and now has the most wins in history 🏆🎥: @usskiteam pic.twitter.com/Ik9qp5gvLy— Team USA (@TeamUSA) March 11, 2023
Babe wake up, @MikaelaShiffrin just won No. 87 and now has the most wins in history 🏆🎥: @usskiteam pic.twitter.com/Ik9qp5gvLy
She broke the record in 1,170 fewer days than Stenmark, and did so in Are Sweden – the site of her first World Cup win as a 17-year-old in 2012. Both the record-breaking win and Shiffrin’s first win came in the slalom, her best race.
“I’ve experienced everything here. My experiences in Are have been tumultuous and completely vibrant,” Shiffrin told ESPN on Friday. “I won my first World Cup race here, had my first major injury here, had great races and tough races. This is the first place I was going to come back to ski racing after my dad died. For this to happen here, it feels somehow like that karma sway has been involved.”
The win came just one day after she matched the record, which had stood for 34 years.
“Pretty hard to comprehend that thought,” Shiffrin said on Saturday. “Holy crap.”
In a video posted by NBC which includes congratulations from the likes of Simone Biles and Kate Winslet, Stenmark congratulated Shiffrin.
“Congratulations to you (for) breaking my record,” Stenmark said. “It was fantastic.”
Greatness recognizes greatness 🐐Legends in sports and entertainment congratulate @MikaelaShiffrin on becoming the winningest World Cup alpine skier in history. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aomRhyw8Kd— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) March 11, 2023
Greatness recognizes greatness 🐐Legends in sports and entertainment congratulate @MikaelaShiffrin on becoming the winningest World Cup alpine skier in history. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aomRhyw8Kd
Fantastic and dominant, with Shiffrin finishing 0.92 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Wedny Holdener. It marks her 13th win of the season, second-most for her behind the record 17 races she won in 2019.
“I think what’s allowed Mikaela to do this is the pureness of her desire to not only be the best in the world but be the best version of herself every time she goes out,” Paul Kristofic, head alpine coach for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, told ESPN. “She is obsessed with perfect skiing and that’s what she’s trying to do every time she goes out.”