Shiffrin secured her third World Cup win on Sunday at Killington Fog. Despite some errors in her run, the Colorado skier powered through and impressed the home crowd by finishing 0.57 seconds ahead of Petra Vlhova from Slovakia in a time of 43.25 seconds. Frida Hansdotter from Sweden took third place in the race.
Upon crossing the finish line, Shiffrin took a moment to absorb the victory. She raised her hands and celebrated with the fans who had supported her throughout the race, cheering her on at every turn with their applause.
Reflecting on the race, Shiffrin commented, “I could hear the crowd throughout the entire second run. At times they were loud, other times quiet, and that pushed me to go faster. Their energy carried me down the mountain and helped me secure the win today.”
This victory marks Shiffrin’s 34th win in the Slalom World Cup, placing her just one win behind Vreni Schneider, the record holder at 35 wins. Schneider’s record was a significant milestone for Shiffrin, who has drawn inspiration from watching videos of Marlies Schild, a childhood idol of hers from Austria.
Shiffrin considers Schild to be a trailblazer in women’s slalom skiing, being the first of her generation to excel in the sport. Schild’s innovative skiing style, at times resembling that of male skiers, has left a lasting impact on Shiffrin, who regards her as a record holder and an inspiration.
