Mikaela Shiffrin makes more history with Lillehammer slalom win, sets up intriguing final 2025/26 Crystal Globe race
Updated 24/03/2026 at 16:32 GMT
React to this story
Even by her own lofty standards, Mikaela Shiffrin has enjoyed a standout 2025-2026 season. And while the American's Olympic slalom gold in Milano Cortina is the highlight, she could yet add more silverware to her trophy cabinet with Shiffrin in prime position to take the Crystal Globe with just Wednesday's giant slalom to come after victory in the Lillehammer slalom on Tuesday afternoon.
'Magnificent' - Shiffrin winning second run in Lillehammer Slalom
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin continued her winning ways as she stormed to the slalom title in Lillehammer, her ninth victory in that discipline this season.
That in itself is a new record for the American superstar, who is the first to win nine races in the same discipline in a season.
Shiffrin previously shared that record with Janica Kostelic, with Shiffrin achieving eight wins in 2018-2019, while the Croatian skier did so in 2000-2001.
”I think this is my greatest level of slalom skiing of my life and that’s so amazing,” she said after her win.
”It also… can feel a little bit sad for me because I’m so motivated by the ability to get so much better, like from the room for improvement, and I don’t know that I can ski better than I did sometimes this season.
”So that’s always like something on my mind that is beautiful but also I guess it is just a special season - to come back from these injuries and then to be able to reach the highest level I ever did is amazing.”
Shiffrin sustained an abdominal puncture wound in November 2024, that required surgery and saw her miss two months of racing. She has also previously injured her MCL.
The American went into the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games as heavy favourite in the slalom, such was her form in the World cups leading into the Olympics.
She took slalom gold for her fourth Olympic medal but has shown no signs of any hangover as she continues to dominate the season.
- Goggia claims maiden super-G Crystal Globe discipline title with victory at Lillehammer
- Highlights: Paris storms to stunning men's downhill victory in Lillehammer
Shiffrin beat Wendy Holdener of Switzerland by more than a second, with Emma Aicher (Germany) 1.36s back in third in Lillehammer, to set up an intriguing final race.
Aicher can still take the Crystal Globe this season because she trails Shiffrin by 85 points going into the giant slalom.
”I think it will be one more race with some excitement, some nerves for Emma and me, it’s a big push to see who can kind of come out on top in the standings race,” Shiffrin said.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/15/image-0e022f0a-81ad-408d-b7b9-b66728ebae03-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Shiffrin does it again' - American star seals 109th World Cup win with brilliant run
Video credit: TNT Sports
”But I also think both her and I are skiing the best GS we ever skied, so it’s also exciting in that way to have one more chance to race in giant slalom this season, so I am excited.”
Lillehammer was the 110th World Cup race win for Shiffrin as she extended her own record. By comparison, fellow American Lindsey Vonn has 84 World Cup victories.
When asked to describe how she sums up her season, Shiffrin opted for the phrase ”big energy”.
She added: ”It’s been a lot of energy and effort from me, from my whole team, a lot of really heavy days and high quality work that we have done together and also the last two years through a couple of different injuries.
”So, just to get to the place where we could have this chance was big… I’m really grateful to everybody around me that made this possible.”
Watch the best sporting action live and on-demand on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement