Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin matched a single-season record Sunday by winning her eighth World Cup slalom race of the season, strengthening her lead in the overall standings with victory in the final event before the World Cup Finals.
After crossing the finish line, Shiffrin bent over and let out a loud scream, a mix of celebration and relief after another dominant performance.
Racing in sunny conditions in Åre Ski Resort, Shiffrin finished 0.94 seconds ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher, while Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener was another second back in third.
“That was really amazing,” Shiffrin said. “I was pretty nervous and pretty excited, but it was challenging to ski. I pushed really hard and I’m happy just to get to the finish.”
The result marked the best slalom finish of Aicher’s career and continued a breakthrough season for the 22-year-old German, who has emerged as a late challenger in the race for the overall title.
With four races remaining, one in each discipline, Aicher trails Shiffrin by 140 points in the overall standings. A race victory is worth 100 points.
“Just the fact that I can stand here and say that I’m in contention is huge for me,” Aicher said. “But Shiffrin is still far ahead, so it’s going to be very hard.”
Shiffrin had briefly lost ground in the standings Saturday when she finished fifth in giant slalom, one place behind Aicher, but gained 20 points back with Sunday’s win.
“There is still some pushing to do,” Shiffrin said. “Emma is skiing incredible in every event, so I try to stay in a fighting spirit.”
Focusing primarily on slalom and giant slalom this season, with two super-G starts, Shiffrin has accumulated 1,286 points, including 880 in slalom. She secured her record ninth slalom discipline title in January.
Aicher has recorded nine podium finishes this season across slalom, super-G, and downhill, including three victories in speed events.
Shiffrin’s win also tied her own mark of eight slalom victories in a single season, previously achieved in 2018–19 and matched only once before by Croatian great Janica Kostelic.
Her victory increased her career total to 72 slalom wins and 109 overall World Cup victories, both records.
Åre has been a particularly successful venue for the American star. She has won a record seven slalom races at the Swedish resort, including her first career victory in December 2012, and captured world titles in both slalom and super-G there in 2019.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals begin next weekend in Norway with speed events in Kvitfjell, followed by giant slalom and slalom races in Hafjell on March 24 and 25.