In a performance that blended sheer dominance with heartfelt emotion, American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin stormed to her 102nd career FIS Alpine Ski World Cup victory on Saturday, effortlessly claiming the women’s slalom season opener in Levi and further cementing her place as the most successful Alpine skier in history.
The 30-year-old Shiffrin, skiing third in the first run on the demanding Levi Black course under crisp Arctic conditions, delivered a masterclass from the outset. She posted a blistering time of 56.08 seconds – more than a second clear of the field – and never looked back. In the second run, under fading daylight, Shiffrin again clocked the fastest split to seal a commanding win by 1.66 seconds, finishing in a combined time of 1:48.92.
Emerging talent Lara Colturi of Albania, celebrating her 19th birthday, took a career-best second place, while Germany’s Emma Aicher rounded out the podium in third (+2.59s).
This triumph marked Shiffrin’s ninth victory in Levi – a venue she now calls “starting to feel like home” – and her 65th in slalom discipline alone. Coming off a challenging 2024-25 season marred by a serious injury that sidelined her for months, Shiffrin’s return to peak form sends a resounding message ahead of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
But beyond the statistics, the day carried deep personal significance. In the traditional Levi winner’s prize – a live reindeer – Shiffrin chose to name her newest addition “Winkie”, after her mother Eileen’s childhood nickname.
In an emotional social media post the following day, Shiffrin wrote:
“Winkie is in honor of my Mom’s childhood nickname. Been a long time coming for my mom to finally get a reindeer in her name, but now it’s written ❤️”
Eileen Shiffrin, who has been her daughter’s constant coach, mentor, and emotional anchor throughout a career filled with triumphs and trials (including the tragic loss of Mikaela’s father in 2020), was visibly moved trackside as Mikaela crossed the finish line. The dedication turned what was already a dominant sporting moment into a profoundly touching family tribute.
“It’s a really amazing day,” Shiffrin said post-race. “I felt very good with my skiing. I was at one with my feeling, with my body and my skis.”
Winkie joins Shiffrin’s growing herd of Levi reindeer – Rudolph, Sven, Mr. Gru, Ingemar (after Ingemar Stenmark), Sunny, Lorax, Grogu, and Rori – all cared for at a local farm in Finnish Lapland.
With this win, Shiffrin leaps to the top of both the slalom and overall World Cup standings as the Olympic season ramps up. Her rivals, including absent defending slalom globe winner Petra Vlhová (still recovering from injury), will need to find another level if they hope to challenge the Queen of Slalom in the months ahead.
The women’s tour now heads to Gurgl, Austria, for the next slalom on November 23. If Levi is any indication, Mikaela Shiffrin – fueled by family, resilience, and unmatched talent – is just getting started.
