Victory after uncertainty

“Madness!” Shiffrin amazes once again

Mikaela Shiffrin once again left the competition in awe.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Mikaela Shiffrin has made a brilliant return to the Ski World Cup with her 96th World Cup victory in the slalom in Aare. "Really amazing, mega strong. When she's there, she's at her best," said Katharina Liensberger. "Everything comes together perfectly with her. She makes the right decisions, took a break on Saturday and was able to attack on Sunday." 

After her victory and her early eighth win in the slalom classification, the US athlete explained the enormous significance of her comeback. "It was very important to ski well again this season to end it on a positive note and start next season in a better position," said Shiffrin on Swiss television.

"There was uncertainty about the injury and the disappointment of not being able to compete in the giant slalom. That's why it feels like a dream." Given her lead, winning her eighth slalom globe was just a formality.

1.24 seconds ahead
Shiffrin, who turns 29 on Wednesday, did not want this to be taken for granted. "A week ago, I didn't know whether I would be able to start in Aare," she explained. "I was lucky that I didn't injure myself worse or at the start of the season. Otherwise it could have been a different story." In fact, she only missed one slalom and also benefited from the cruciate ligament rupture of her long-term rival Petra Vlhova. She will be presented with her only crystal globe this winter, her 16th overall, on Saturday in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. With a lead of 1.24 seconds over second-placed Zrinka Ljutic, Shiffrin once again left the competition in awe. 

Role model and her own path
When it comes to perfection, Shiffrin is certainly a role model, said the sixth-placed slalom racer from Vorarlberg. Nevertheless, every athlete at this level has to be considered individually, Liensberger pointed out. "You can take certain things for granted, but it's important that you still go your own way."

Katharina Liensberger(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Her own is coherent. "I can travel on happily from Åre to Saalbach," said Liensberger after her weekend ended on a conciliatory note following the giant slalom crash. Apart from bruises, there were no traces of the crash. At the end in Saalbach, she resolved to take "the next steps" towards taking more risks.

ÖSV coach praises Liensberger 
"You can take your hat off to Katharina Liensberger. The way things went on Saturday, sixth place is top for her", praised ÖSV coach Klaus Mayrhofer. The coach was annoyed that Katharina Huber (16th) and Katharina Gallhuber (11th), who was struggling with knee problems, did not finish their good intermediate placings in fifth and sixth respectively. "One in the top ten is not enough, the gap to the front is also big. We have to stretch ourselves. We have to work on becoming more stable and just go for it." The last chances of the 2023/24 season will open up next weekend at home.