Home

Olympics

“Give Her the Credit”: Despite 89th Win, Mikaela Shiffrin Left Bitter-Sweet at Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2023/24

Published 11/13/2023, 12:13 PM EST

Follow Us

Mikaela Shiffrin is the undisputed queen of the snowy slopes. From a young age, the legend paved her way atop the sport of Alpine skiing, and she now stands tall as one of the greatest skiers ever. Shiffrin has made history by becoming the Alpine skier with the most World Cup wins by any other male or female skier.

And now, chasing her 100-win run, the legend earned her impressive 89th win at the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2023/24. However, despite this iconic moment, Shiffrin was left with a bitter and sweet feeling.

Mikaela Shiffrin left with mixed emotions after her 89th win

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In an Instagram post by Eurosport and the Audi FIS Ski World Cup, Mikaela Shiffrin opened up in a post-race interview about defeating her formidable rival Petra Vlhová. She stated, “It’s a little bittersweet. I’m really happy with the victory, but I have to give her the credit. She earned it—probably a second and a half by the bottom, at least.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Eurosport (@eurosport)

On Saturday (November 11), Olympic champion Petra Vlhová was fastest on both runs as she took victory in the first slalom of the 2023/24 alpine skiing World Cup season by a massive 1.41 seconds from Germany’s Lena Duerr. However, on Sunday (November 12), on the same hill, after leading Shiffrin by 0.76 seconds after the first run, she faced a heartbreaking loss on her second run.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Olympics stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The surprising turn of events at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup

In Levi, Finland, at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup, Petra was skiing smoothly on her second run, seeking to secure victory once more. However, in the steep section midway down the Levi Black course, she straddled a gate, lost her balance, and exited the race, leaving Shiffrin in disbelief. Shiffrin, who was prepared to take second place, ended up with her seventh career victory in Levi.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Reuters

She finished 0.18 ahead of Leona Popovic of Croatia, earning her the podium. Shiffrin also gave credit to her formidable competitor, saying, “I would say, Petra and her team, they earned this victory today”, and terming the surprising turn of events as a stroke of “really bad luck”.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s Uncanny Prediction for Iga Swiatek’s Victory Details How the Tennis Star Reclaimed Top-Spot

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The victory left the champion feeling bittersweet, but Shiffrin herself worked hard to earn the win. Days before the race, she suffered a crash of her own, bruising a bone on her left knee. In her own words, Shiffrin admitted that the victory proved that she still had “a good mindset to fight”. 

Watch this story: 7x Skiing World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin’s Intense Workout Routine Challenges Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Creed’ Physique

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Christaline Meyers

1,137Articles

One take at a time

Hello there! I'm Christaline Meyers, a Olympics Sports Writer for Essentially Sports. As an ardent lover of the sporting world, I've found my home in the dazzling world of Gymnastics, where elegance meets athleticism in gravity-defying routines. But my passion doesn't stop there; I'm a sports enthusiast with a taste for the wild waves of surfing, the thrill of Alpine Skiing, and the street-smart moves of skateboarding.
Show More>

Edited by:

Suman Varandani