Mikaela Shiffrin wins in Kranjska Gora to tie Lindsey Vonn's World Cup wins record for women

The American skier triumphs on the Podkoren 3 slope to secure her 82nd career World Cup victory, equalling Lindsey Vonn's women's record and moving into a tie for second overall in all-time wins.

3 minBy Olympics.com
Mikaela Shiffrin
(2023 Getty Images)

Mikaela Shiffrin now stands at the top of women's Alpine Ski World Cup racing alongside fellow American Lindsey Vonn after winning the second giant slalom race in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, on Sunday (8 January).

The 27-year-old clinched her 82nd career World Cup win in convincing style, powering home first in both runs to leave her rivals trailing in her wake, winning in a combined time of 1:52.53.

It also leaves her just four wins behind Ingemar Stenmark's overall record of 86.

Shiffrin, who was the first skier to take to the course in the morning run, had put nearly a quarter of a second between her and closest challenger Federica Brignone after that first run, with Saturday winner Valérie Grenier third. That meant they would be the last three to take the second descent in reverse order.

Grenier was unable to repeat her heroics of a day prior after a couple of big slides, finishing outside the podium places. Brignone, however, skied a solid second run to set the marker for Shiffrin.

With her 0.24-second advantage, Shiffrin started aggressively to extend her lead as she made her way down the Podkoren 3. The American skied seemingly without a weight on her back as she found time from all corners, triumphing by an impressive 0.77 seconds.

Speaking to FIS TV immediately after her second run, the American reflected: "I was so nervous this run. I have a rash on my face, I was so nervous! I don't know why, maybe it's because of 82. I only wanted to ski well… I can't believe it.

"It was a fight, but it was pretty amazing conditions and I got a report from the coaches that just said everything is fully attackable so you have to go for it. I've been in this position (before) and I've given it away, and today I wanted to go for it."

Shiffrin continues to lead the overall World Cup standings by 419 points over Petra Vlhová, while closing the gap to Marta Bassino in the giant slalom discipline race to just 25 points.

The women now head to Flachau, Austria, for a slalom race on Tuesday, when Shiffrin can make the women's record her own.

Results - Kranjska Gora giant slalom, Sunday 8 January 2023

  1. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), 1:52.53
  2. Federica Brignone (ITA), +0.77
  3. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI), +0.97
  4. Petra Vlhová (SVK), +1.07
  5. Marta Bassino (ITA), +1.16
  6. Valérie Grenier (CAN), +1.74
  7. Mina Fuerst Holtmann (NOR), +1.83
  8. Sara Hector (SWE), +1.94
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