Mikaela Shiffrin extends record run as Marcel Hirscher hints at retirement

By Rob Hodgetts, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 11:13 AM EDT, Sat March 16, 2019
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is arguably the most dominant athlete in sport right now. The 24-year-old has taken skiing by storm, winning 17 World Cup races across four of the six disciplines last season to take her overall tally to 60 victories. Here's a look back at her short but sweet career so far.
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is arguably the most dominant athlete in sport right now. The 24-year-old has taken skiing by storm, winning 17 World Cup races across four of the six disciplines last season to take her overall tally to 60 victories. Here's a look back at her short but sweet career so far.
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Shiffrin grew up skiing from an early age thanks to parents who were both competitive college skiers. She rose quickly through the junior ranks and joined the World Cup circuit two days before her 16th birthday in 2011.
2011 —
Shiffrin grew up skiing from an early age thanks to parents who were both competitive college skiers. She rose quickly through the junior ranks and joined the World Cup circuit two days before her 16th birthday in 2011.
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The American (right) secured her first World Cup medal in December 2011, winning a bronze in the slalom. Her potential didn't go unnoticed as she was named rookie of the year.
2011 —
The American (right) secured her first World Cup medal in December 2011, winning a bronze in the slalom. Her potential didn't go unnoticed as she was named rookie of the year.
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Shiffrin lived up to her hype during the following season, winning her first World Cup slalom event in Lienz, Austria.
2012 —
Shiffrin lived up to her hype during the following season, winning her first World Cup slalom event in Lienz, Austria.
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The youngster continued her good form, winning a further three World Cup slalom races that season. She also struck slalom gold at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria.
2013 —
The youngster continued her good form, winning a further three World Cup slalom races that season. She also struck slalom gold at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria.
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She ended a remarkable season with a first World Cup slalom crown, which she defended the following year.
2013 —
She ended a remarkable season with a first World Cup slalom crown, which she defended the following year.
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As world champion, the pressure was on the 18-year-old to perform at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. She didn't disappoint. Shiffrin became the youngest ever Olympic slalom champion and the first American to win the title in 42 years.
2014 —
As world champion, the pressure was on the 18-year-old to perform at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. She didn't disappoint. Shiffrin became the youngest ever Olympic slalom champion and the first American to win the title in 42 years.
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Following her Olympic success, the American won her third straight World Cup slalom crown in 2015. She also defended her slalom title at the 2015 World Championships.
2015 —
Following her Olympic success, the American won her third straight World Cup slalom crown in 2015. She also defended her slalom title at the 2015 World Championships.
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A knee injury stalled her career the following season and she had to settle for fourth in the slalom standings.
2016 —
A knee injury stalled her career the following season and she had to settle for fourth in the slalom standings.
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Shiffrin was back to her best in 2017, though, winning a fifth slalom World Cup title and adding a third World Championship gold. She also won her first overall World Cup title.
2017 —
Shiffrin was back to her best in 2017, though, winning a fifth slalom World Cup title and adding a third World Championship gold. She also won her first overall World Cup title.
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As her reputation grew, so did her popularity and all eyes were on Shiffrin to perform at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She was affected by the weather-hit schedule and despite winning gold in the giant slalom and silver in the combined she missed out completely in slalom. But she won the World Cup overall and slalom titles again at the end of the season to confirm her status as America's new superstar.
2018 —
As her reputation grew, so did her popularity and all eyes were on Shiffrin to perform at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She was affected by the weather-hit schedule and despite winning gold in the giant slalom and silver in the combined she missed out completely in slalom. But she won the World Cup overall and slalom titles again at the end of the season to confirm her status as America's new superstar.
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Shiffrin has been on fire during the 2018-19 season and has made waves beyond ski racing for her level of consistency and domination. She has climbed to fifth on the list off all-time most successful ski racers, and third woman behind Lindsey Vonn and Annemarie Moser-Proll.
Shiffrin has been on fire during the 2018-19 season and has made waves beyond ski racing for her level of consistency and domination. She has climbed to fifth on the list off all-time most successful ski racers, and third woman behind Lindsey Vonn and Annemarie Moser-Proll.
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At the 2019 FIS World Championships in Are, Sweden she struck in the opening super-G race to score her fourth world title.
At the 2019 FIS World Championships in Are, Sweden she struck in the opening super-G race to score her fourth world title.
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And she clinched a remarkable fourth straight slalom world title -- a streak stretching back to 2013 -- to go with a bronze in the giant slalom in Sweden.
And she clinched a remarkable fourth straight slalom world title -- a streak stretching back to 2013 -- to go with a bronze in the giant slalom in Sweden.
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Following the World Championships, Shiffrin won a World Cup slalom event in Stockholm to score a record-equaling 14th title of the season. She also wrapped up a third straight season slalom crown and sixth in seven years. She clinched a third straight overall crown when racing was canceled in Sochi.
Following the World Championships, Shiffrin won a World Cup slalom event in Stockholm to score a record-equaling 14th title of the season. She also wrapped up a third straight season slalom crown and sixth in seven years. She clinched a third straight overall crown when racing was canceled in Sochi.
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Soon after she pushed the record to 15 wins - unprecedented for men or women -- with a slalom victory (her 58th) in the Czech Republic.
Soon after she pushed the record to 15 wins - unprecedented for men or women -- with a slalom victory (her 58th) in the Czech Republic.
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At the World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra in March, Shiffrin wrapped up a third Crystal Globe of 2019 with a first season title in the super-G.
At the World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra in March, Shiffrin wrapped up a third Crystal Globe of 2019 with a first season title in the super-G.
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Mikaela Shiffrin: The most dominant sportswoman on the planet?
CNN  — 

She’s ski racing’s undoubted new queen, but Mikaela Shiffrin finished the slalom season in regal fashion with victory in the final race in Andorra.

The 24-year-old clinched her 16th win of a record-breaking season Saturday to take her tally to 59 World Cup titles overall.

The victory was also her 40th slalom win to equal the record of Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark, who heads the all-time list with 86 World Cup wins.

Overall champion Shiffrin, who topped the slalom standings from Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova and Swiss Wendy Holdener, is hot favorite to clinch the giant slalom crystal globe Sunday.

The American has a 97-point lead over Vlhova, with 100 points available to the winner in Andorra.

Shiffrin, who passed Vreni Schneider’s mark of 14 wins in a season earlier this month, could become the first skier – male or female – to win the World Cup title in overall, slalom, giant slalom and the faster super-G discipline in the same season.

Mikaela Shiffrin is growing into one of the most dominant and influential female sports stars on the planet, but she knows that her success in ski racing comes at a price – abusive comments on social media.

READ: Marcel Hirscher: Ski racing’s greatest of all time?