'Closing my eyes, hoping for it to be over' - Mikaela Shiffrin reacts to 'crazy' high-speed Flachau win
Published 13/01/2026 at 22:59 GMT
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Mikaela Shiffrin recorded another win in Flachau, Austria, as the American star delivered her latest eye-catching slalom performance. It bodes well for dominant Shiffrin heading into the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina next month, although she admitted that there was some fear about the speed of her descent during her latest success, saying: "I was hoping for it to be over."
Shiffrin admits nerves in Flachau win: 'Felt like closing my eyes and hoping for it to be over'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin admitted that she was "hoping for it to be over" after her latest World Cup victory under the lights in Flachau, Austria.
The American's domination of Alpine Skiing's slalom continued as she recorded her 70th career victory in the discipline.
It was also a 107th World Cup win for the 30-year-old, who finished second last time out in Kranjska Gora and is in fine form heading into the highly-anticipated 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina next month.
Shiffrin led the way with a time of 56.22s from her first run and ended with a combined time of 1:50.52, 0.41s ahead of team-mate Paula Moltzan.
"Something I learned from Kranjska Gora is to get more comfortable with high speed on the slalom, so we are practicing that," Shiffrin said.
"I felt like I could show some of my top speed tonight on the second run. There were even moments then when I was like, 'Oh my gosh!' and kind of closing my eyes, hoping for it to be over a bit because it's crazy to be going down the hill in that way.
"I felt like the second run built up a really good track actually - I was quite worried about that from the first. It wasn't insanely bumpy, there were some grooves for sure but it was quite enjoyable to ski."
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Shiffrin 'crushes dream' of team-mate Moltzan to triumph in Flachau
Video credit: TNT Sports
Shiffrin also revealed the "special feeling" that came from another impressive victory, her sixth in the slalom so far this season.
"I knew that there were some really good turns because it's a special feeling I have when I can tell it's a quick turn," she said. "It's really hard to feel that for the whole course on this hill.
"Every single time you get a roller it breaks your rhythm, and the key is seeing over the rollers strong and confident. That's so hard to do and connect it all the way, so I just tried to push every turn like it's never fast enough."
There was plenty of vocal support for Shiffrin in Austria and she highlighted the importance of the spectators.
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"Even from the start there were people lining the start and kids shouting 'Shiffrin, Shiffrin!'. And I'm like, 'Oh no!'" she said.
"It's a mental challenge to be there in the right moment but this crowd tonight - you can see the footprints right up the slope - that was special. It was another really exciting slalom race."
The final World Cup slalom before the break for the Winter Olympic Games will be in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czechia, on January 25.
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games, starting on February 6, will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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