A week ago, after battling injuries, setbacks, and nonstop challenges, Mikaela Shiffrin made history! Mikaela Shiffrin made history on Sunday, crushing the slalom in Sestriere to snag her 100th Alpine skiing World Cup win. She crossed the line 0.61 seconds ahead of Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, becoming the first skier—male or female—to ever hit triple digits in victories. Fellow American Paula Moltzan nailed a strong second run to grab third, while world champion Camille Rast’s day ended early with a crash.

This milestone didn’t come easy; Shiffrin’s pursuit of win No. 100 was put on hold after a crash in Killington, Vermont, last November, adding yet another hurdle to her journey. After the race, she reflected on the moment. “There’s so much more meaning to this one than a number or a record,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a relief, honestly. I would say it’s almost a surprise after everything that’s happened in the last months. I honestly did not anticipate 100 was going to happen this season, so I’m thankful,” she added. But this milestone didn’t come easy. The 29-year-old’s chase for No. 100 was put on hold after a brutal crash during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, last November.

It left her with a puncture wound in her abdomen and what she described as a “mental, psychological PTSD-esque struggle” when returning to the sport. Before achieving her record-breaking 100th win, doubts entered her mind. On Instagram, she revealed she did not resonate with her personality. To achieve her 100th victory, despite her doubts, she managed but how?

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Mikaela Shiffrin’s fight to overcome doubt

Mikaela Shiffrin has struggled with her return to the giant slalom starting line after a brutal crash occurred in Killington. After the horrific Killington crash, she adopted a more prudence-oriented racing style, which she needs in view of her injuries. At Saalbach, Shiffrin demonstrated her strength by earning the 15th world championship medal with a win in the combined team event with teammate Breezy.

Her World Cup restart faced multiple setbacks when she finished 25th in the giant slalom event, followed by a non-qualifying run because Federica Brignone won first place. This letdown was very aggravating for someone with her champion-level status. She later explained to CNN what was happening in those races.

“There is this kind of mind-body disconnect. I’m telling myself to do certain technical moves, and it’s just not happening. My body’s screaming at me, it’s like a fight or flight: ‘No, don’t do it, it’s risky, it’s dangerous.’” Regaining full confidence in GS is still a work in progress, and while it’s overwhelming, she admits it’s also a little exciting.

When asked by NBC Sports how she pulled off her 100th win despite those doubts, Shiffrin acknowledged just how tough the road back had been. “It’s maybe a little bit of a longer story than we actually want to get into,” she said, before revealing that her injury probably should have ended her season.

But with the Olympics on the horizon, she pushed through, learning from her teammates’ post-injury experiences and forcing herself back into racing mode as soon as possible. The turning point? That second run on a Sunday. “I was really proud of that run—to be able to put some of my better skiing out there was truly a special moment.” That, right there, is the reason for her comeback.