Just weeks after storming to slalom gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin made a bold, rare return to the speed disciplines, lining up for her first Super-G since a mid-December DNF in Switzerland. The American legend, wearing bib 31, took on the demanding La VolatA course in northern Italy on Sunday, March 8, in the final regular-season women’s Super-G of the 2025-26 FIS Alpine World Cup.
Shiffrin’s decision to compete wasn’t about chasing the Super-G discipline title—where Italy’s Sofia Goggia holds a 63-point edge over New Zealand’s Alice Robinson—but a calculated play to protect her commanding lead in the overall standings. With rival Germany’s Emma Aicher breathing down her neck, even modest points could prove decisive in the race for a record-tying sixth overall Crystal Globe.
The gamble paid off handsomely: while Shiffrin finished 23rd—earning 8 crucial points—Aicher shockingly skied out early, failing to score. That widened Shiffrin’s cushion to 125 points (1,141 total) with just six races left, including her powerhouse slaloms in Åre next weekend.
The race itself delivered drama on home snow for Italy: veteran Elena Curtoni, 35, roared to victory—her first World Cup win since December 2022—edging Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie by 0.26 seconds. Fellow Italian Asja Zenere snagged a stunning career-best third, completing an electric home podium sweep.
For Shiffrin, the outing marked only her second Super-G start in over two years (her last win in the discipline dates to 2022). Known primarily for technical mastery—slalom dominance and giant slalom prowess—this speed foray underscores her versatility and relentless drive to seal the overall title amid a season of Olympic redemption after Beijing struggles.
As the World Cup circuit hurtles toward finals in Lillehammer, Shiffrin’s strategic edge keeps the spotlight firmly on her quest for history.
How to catch the remaining action:
United States: Stream live on Ski and Snowboard Live (skiandsnowboard.live), with highlights potentially on NBC Sports or Peacock.
Europe: Warner Bros. Discovery platforms across 45 markets, or FIS TV (watch.fis-ski.com) for live streams, English commentary, and extras.
Global access: Check BBC Sport (UK/Ireland), CBC Sports (Canada), or FIS TV in many regions.
Shiffrin’s next battles loom in Åre’s technical events—where she’s unbeatable. Will she lock up the Crystal Globe there? The countdown is on.
