The Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24 saw an exhilarating 2-run showdown on the 28th of October. Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA, the Alpine Skiing legend, set out on her 100-win run chasing her 89th World Cup win at the Rettenbach Glacier near Sölden in Austria. Joining Shiffrin in a neck-to-neck battle were some of the world’s finest skiers, like Petra Vlhova, Federica Brignone, Sara Hector, Lara Gut-Behrami, and others.
Shiffrin, who has the most World Cup wins of any alpine skier in history and is considered one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time, faced formidable competitors. Already reeling from a massive setback in run one, she was denied her first step to record-breaking supremacy following the second run.
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Mikaela Shiffrin denied the first step to her 100-win run
According to FIS Ski, Mikaela Shiffrin came in 6th place at the Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24 in her second run. Shiffrin, who brought a conservative approach to the upper portion of the pitch, lost time in the first two sectors. However, she gained momentum at the bottom but could not make up for the loss and came in at +1.19 seconds to the lead. She was outshined by Lara Gut-Behrami, the Swiss alpine ski racer and gold medalist in the super-G event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
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YANQING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 07: Mikaela Shiffrin of Team United States reacts after not finishing her run during the Women’s Giant Slalom on day three of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at National Alpine Ski Centre on February 07, 2022 in Yanqing, China. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Lara Gut-Behrami, who came in fourth in the first run, behind Italy’s Federica Brignone, overcame and edged the Italian Brignone by 0.02 seconds in the second run. In a combined time of 2:18.94 , Lara Gut-Behrami, the 32-year-old, secured her 38th career win. According to the final standings, Lara Gut-Behrami took first place, followed by Federica Brignone in second and Petra Vlhova in third. This, however, pushed Shiffrin to the sixth position, and she did not make it to the podium. Sadly, the legend was thus denied her first step to record-breaking supremacy. This heartbreak came after she reeled behind in the first run as well.
The disappointment she faced in the first run
In the first run of the Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24, aiming to become the third skier ever to win at least six successive World Cup giant slaloms, she faced massive contention. Shiffrin had 0.75 to make up in the second leg, came in at the 5th position with 1:09.52, and was overtaken by her formidable rival Petra Vlhova once more.
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YANQING, CHINA – FEBRUARY 09: Mikaela Shiffrin of Team United States reacts prior to the Women’s Slalom Run 1 on day five of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at National Alpine Ski Centre on February 09, 2022 in Yanqing, China. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Petra Vlhova came in in 3rd place with a difference of +0.63 from the lead and a time of 1:09.40. Brignone of Italy, at 33 and looking to become the oldest woman to win a World Cup giant slalom race, took the lead in the first run with a time of 1:08.77.
The Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup was, all in all, a thrilling showdown. Although Shiffrin didn’t podium, she still made it to the top ten. Fans hope that as the 2023–24 season continues, she will be able to achieve her 100-win run.
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BHUJAYA RAY CHOWDHURY