Fresh off her commanding slalom victory in Gurgl, Austria, that marked her 103rd career World Cup win, Mikaela Shiffrin sat down with USA TODAY and delivered a clear message to anyone wondering if the next generation is closing the gap: bring it on.
Far from feeling threatened by the surge of talented young skiers, the 30-year-old American icon says she’s genuinely thrilled by the depth of competition emerging in women’s slalom.
“I’m excited,” Shiffrin said with a smile. “I’m excited for all the amazing slalom skiing that’s happening right now and what’s possible for the future. So it’s only amazing.”
The comment came after she shared the Gurgl podium with 19-year-old Italian sensation Lara Colturi (2nd) and 26-year-old Swiss skier Camille Rast (3rd), the same duo she out-skied the previous weekend in Levi. When asked directly if she’s “worried” about the teenagers and twenty-somethings nipping at her heels, Shiffrin brushed the notion aside, insisting the rising speed across the field only fuels her.
“Everyone is pushing so hard. I have no choice but to give my absolute all,” she said. “That’s exactly what keeps it fun.”
Shiffrin also noted the stark contrast in conditions from last year’s Gurgl race, when heavy clouds made visibility brutal. This time around, bright sunshine lit up the course, a welcome change she called “a really nice surprise.”
Back to work almost immediately after the win, Shiffrin posted an Instagram story from the gym, captioning a clip with enthusiasm: “One of the best parts of the job is the post-race strength [training] in a gym like this,” followed by an energetic thumbs-up.
The five-time overall World Cup champion now turns her focus to the Stifel Copper Cup at Copper Mountain, Colorado, over Thanksgiving weekend (November 27–30, 2025). For the first time this season, Shiffrin will race in front of American fans and, more importantly to her, sleep in her own bed.
“Racing during the day and going home to my own bed at night? That’s going to be pretty special,” she said.
With three straight slalom victories already banked this season and the record books continuing to bend in her favor, Shiffrin shows no signs of slowing down; and she’s perfectly happy to have the sport’s brightest young talents pushing her every step of the way.
