Shiffrin equals Vonn record with 82nd World Cup win

By Sports Desk January 08, 2023

Mikaela Shiffrin equalled Lindsey Vonn's record for the most Alpine Skiing World Cup victories by a woman with her win in Kranjska Gora on Sunday.

The American moved level with her compatriot by prevailing in the giant slalom in northwestern Slovenia, winning by a margin of 0.77 seconds.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shiffrin, who has won four overall World Cup titles, is now just four wins shy of the overall wins record held by Ingemar Stenmark.

Shiffrin led by 0.24 seconds after the first run and stretched her advantage on the second, finishing ahead of Federica Brignone in second and Lara Gut-Behrami in third.

"I was so nervous this run, I have a rash on my face because I was so nervous," said Shiffrin.

"Maybe it was because of the 82, I don't know, I just really wanted to ski it well and I did. I can't believe it.

"It was a fight. But it was pretty amazing conditions and I got a report from the coaches and they were like, 'It's really attackable, so just go for it.

"I've been in this position before and I've given it away and today I wanted to fight for it.''

Shiffrin's 82 wins have come in 233 races compared to 395 for Vonn.

The 27-year-old, who debuted in the World Cup at the age of 15, will get the chance to break the record in Tuesday's slalom under the lights in Flachau, Austria.

Shiffrin heads into that race with a 419-point lead in the overall World Cup standings.

A six-time gold medallist at the Alpine World Ski Championships, Shiffrin will look to add to that tally next month in France. Two golds would give her the second-most all-time for men and women behind only Christl Cranz. She has 11 medals overall, four short of Cranz's record tally of 15.

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