In a poignant message that captures the essence of her sport, American alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin shared a powerful reminder amid her dominant 2025-26 World Cup season: “There are no enemies in ski racing when you’re racing against the clock.”
The quote, posted on her official Facebook page just hours ago, comes on the heels of Shiffrin’s dramatic come-from-behind victory in the night slalom at Semmering on December 28. Trailing by over half a second after the first run on a treacherous, deteriorating course, the 30-year-old delivered the fastest second run to edge Switzerland’s Camille Rast by a mere 0.09 seconds, securing her record-extending 106th World Cup win and her sixth consecutive slalom triumph dating back to last season.
Shiffrin’s words highlight the unique nature of alpine skiing, where athletes compete not directly against one another but against the unforgiving timer and the mountain itself. This philosophy underscores her approach in a season marked by both unparalleled success and challenging conditions, including her vocal criticism of the Semmering course setup, which she described as “brutal” and potentially unsafe due to numerous did-not-finishes (DNFs).
The sentiment resonates deeply within the ski racing community, especially as Team USA enjoys a banner December. Earlier in the month, Lindsey Vonn, Shiffrin’s longtime teammate and mentor, made headlines with her own historic victory in the St. Moritz downhill on December 12 – her 83rd career win and first since 2018, at age 41 making her the oldest woman ever to claim a World Cup race.
While Shiffrin continues to dominate the technical disciplines – remaining undefeated in slalom this season with five wins – Vonn’s speed event success has bolstered American hopes heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Mikaela Shiffrin vs Lindsey Vonn: Stats, records and medals comparison
Shiffrin and Vonn, whose careers have often intersected with mutual admiration, embody the collaborative spirit Shiffrin described. Though they rarely race head-to-head due to differing specialties, their shared pursuit of excellence against the clock has inspired generations.
As the World Cup circuit pauses for the holidays before resuming in January, Shiffrin’s message serves as a timely reflection: in a high-stakes individual sport, the greatest adversary is time itself – and the joy comes from mastering it together with respect for fellow competitors.
Traditional podium celebrations, complete with champagne sprays, remain a cherished ritual when victories are earned.
With the Olympics just weeks away, both American legends are poised to add to their legacies, proving that in ski racing, unity and personal bests triumph over rivalry.
