Shiffrin Wins World Cup Finals GS, Collects GS & Overall Crystal Globe
Mikaela Shiffrin of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team wrapped up the 2022-23 season in style, winning her 88th World Cup at the World Cup Finals giant slalom in Soldeu, Andorra. It was her 138th career podium and her 21st giant slalom win, breaking two women’s records. She also received her second career giant slalom crystal globe, marking her the most successful skier in the discipline, along with her fifth overall crystal globe, the biggest prize in ski racing.
Shiffrin skied to win, taking the first run handily by .62 seconds and put down a smart second run to secure the win by .06. It was her seventh giant slalom win of the season and her 21st career World Cup win—breaking Vreni Schneider’s record of 20 GS wins, which Shiffrin tied last week. The overall record is held by Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden, who won 46 GS races throughout his time on the World Cup circuit.
"I was so nervous at the start," laughed Shiffrin. "I think there isn’t a reason. You want to do well and it doesn’t matter about the records—you just want to do well."
The win extended Shiffrin’s overall record for World Cup wins to 88 and officially gave her the giant slalom globe, which she had clinched in her record-tying 86th win last week. She also received the overall FIS crystal globe for the fifth time after the race with a personal best 2,206 World Cup points throughout the season, which beat her record from 2018-19, when she won a historic 17 races. Tina Maze of Slovenia holds the record for more points in a single season with 2,414 from 2012-13. Shiffrin now has 15 crystal globes from 13 seasons—five overall and 10 discipline titles—including three from this season: overall, GS and slalom. This is Shiffrin’s second overall globe in a row, and she is one of only four skiers to win the overall at least five times.
The result also increased Shiffrin’s resume to 138 World Cup podium finishes, breaking the record held by Lindsey Vonn.
Shiffrin received another surprise after the race as she was interviewed by her partner and fellow skiing star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR), who was acting as fill-in journalist. Through joyous laughter Shiffrin made it clear that there will be more highlights to come next season.
“I feel okay, this is amazing. I feel great. All these women were fighting in the second run. I barely squeezed past Thea (Stjernesund), big congrats. A big congrats to Val (Grenier) and all the women this season. I am excited to come back and do it again next season,” Shiffrin told Kilde.
The American star has no plans of slowing down or a huge celebration planned.
“I will get a little bit of time on the beach just for a few days and then back here in Europe for a few ski tests and then a little bit of a longer break,” said Shiffrin. “We will be back in Europe for the start of next season before we know it.”
Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR) put together a beautiful second run to take the top of the table when she finished. She would eventually end up taking second after getting passed by Shiffrin. Saving the best for last, it was the best finish for the Norwegian all season.
The 26-year-old was in tears of joy as she clinched the spot on the podium. Her previous best finish in giant slalom was eighth.
“It is something you work for every day. Two years ago, it was one of the toughest seasons for me. I didn’t take a single point in GS and now this happens. It has been a tough road and an emotional one. To get confirmation that my work leads me somewhere gives me amazing confidence in the future,” said Stjernesund.
Despite the struggles, the Norwegian never quit.
“I always believed I was good enough, but the wish was taking over. I was wishing too much. I never found the ability to just let go and relax and ski. I think you get older and realize it is enough now, just use the opportunity. I was lucky to be there and left it all on the table. I went for it and had nothing to lose, it was an amazing feeling,” said Stjernesund.
Valerie Grenier (CAN) was nearly out on multiple turns in her second run, but she pulled together a strong finish to make the podium in third. The Canadian finishes the season with two podiums.
“I just really had to go for it. I made a couple mistakes at the top and was not skiing that well. I just kept thinking about my clean skiing at the bottom and it worked. I am just happy to be on the podium. It is the perfect way to end the season,” said Grenier.
Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) needed to dig deep to propel herself to a strong finish, and that is exactly what she did on her second run. The Swiss star saw the green light after her stellar second run with five racers to go. However, he was immediately passed with the next skier and finished fourth.
Behrami also took second place in the giant slalom season standings, clinching the spot with the final race.
With the sun starting to peak through the clouds, Marta Bassino (ITA) could not do enough to make another podium this season. Bassino finished sixth and ended up settling for third in the giant slalom standings, dropping from second in the final race.
The 2022 giant slalom champion Tessa Worley (FRA) took the slope for her 255th World Cup start and what may be her final run as she hangs up the skis. The 33-year-old finished 11th. Worley calls it quits after a long-storied career with 36 career World Cup podiums.
Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR) dramatically improved this season with five podiums across the World Cup and World Championships, including two giant slalom podiums. The Norwegian stayed up for two decent runs to finish ninth in the final race of the season.
Michelle Gisin (SUI) finished her incredible run of competing in every single race this World Cup season. The Swiss workhorse capped her jam-packed season with a 21st place finish.
Shiffrin dominated the season, but many skiers made their names known this season. There will be many gunning for those victories the American hoarded next season.
