On January 18, 2026, Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath delivered a commanding performance to secure his second consecutive World Cup slalom victory in Wengen, Switzerland. The win propelled him to the top of the discipline standings and highlighted his growing dominance ahead of the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
McGrath edged out longtime friend and rival Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil, with Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen rounding out the podium in third. This latest success brings McGrath’s career World Cup slalom victories to five, building on his breakout junior success in 2020 and his first senior win in 2022.
Here are some exciting moments from McGrath’s triumphant day in Wengen:
The victory was met with enthusiastic support from fellow Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, fiancé of American star Mikaela Shiffrin. Kilde, who is making his own comeback this season after a serious crash in 2024 that sidelined him for nearly two years, shared his excitement on Instagram Stories with the celebratory message: “Altemannnnn!! 🤩🤩”
Kilde, a two-time World Cup overall champion with over 20 speed event wins and multiple Olympic medals, has returned to racing cautiously. He posted 24th in super-G and 11th in downhill at Beaver Creek earlier this season, followed by a 36th-place finish in super-G at Livigno, Italy, on December 27, 2025. His strong bond with teammates like McGrath—forged through intense training and even Arctic Ocean plunges—continues to shine through.
Here are some heartwarming glimpses of the power couple, Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Kilde, supporting each other on and off the slopes:
Meanwhile, Shiffrin remains in top form, having claimed her 107th career World Cup victory—and her sixth slalom win of the 2025-26 season—just days earlier in Flachau, Austria. She dominated the foggy night race to lead a U.S. one-two finish alongside teammate Paula Moltzan.
The couple, engaged since 2024 after going public with their relationship in 2021, often speak openly about their shared dedication. In a recent podcast, Kilde praised Shiffrin’s unmatched work ethic, saying it’s the key to her legendary consistency. When addressing fans urging retirement for family life, Shiffrin responded firmly: “Trust me, that’s very enticing – but we’re not done here.” Kilde echoed: “We’re not done here, for sure not done.”
With the Olympics just weeks away, Norway’s alpine team—bolstered by stars like McGrath and Kilde—looks stronger than ever, while Shiffrin continues her pursuit of more historic milestones. Fans worldwide are buzzing with anticipation!
