In a weekend of high drama and heartfelt tributes on the Podkoren slope, Switzerland’s Camille Rast etched her name into alpine skiing history by sweeping both the giant slalom and slalom at the FIS World Cup stop in Kranjska Gora on January 3-4, 2026 — a rare double that left even Mikaela Shiffrin “in awe.”
The reigning slalom world champion first claimed her maiden World Cup giant slalom victory on Saturday, holding off a charging field with a combined time of 2:00.09. Austria’s Julia Scheib finished second (+0.20), while American Paula Moltzan secured third (+0.47) in a remarkable comeback just days after a heavy crash in Semmering.
On Sunday, Rast delivered again in the slalom, posting the fastest times in both runs for a winning total of 1:40.20. She edged Shiffrin by a mere 0.14 seconds, ending the American’s perfect slalom streak this season and denying her a 107th career World Cup win. Swiss teammate Wendy Holdener rounded out the podium in third (+1.83).
Shiffrin, who finished fifth in Saturday’s GS, reflected on the weekend in an emotional social media post widely praised for its sportsmanship:
“What a weekend🤯. That was an incredible show. The conditions were so stable—that allowed nearly any kind of course setting and let the athletes take charge and rise to the challenge. It was so inspiring to watch the top women perform in GS yesterday.
Today was an unforgettable experience and a privilege to be part of this battle. I can’t imagine skiing faster myself, and Camille Rast absolutely laid it down. If only the whole world could understand what a challenge it is to take the top spot both GS & SL races in the same weekend, just to add even more(!) appreciation to what Camille has achieved. Even more impressive is her heart to show this kind of expression and dedication to those involved in the tragedy in Crans Montana.🙏
(U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team showed up both days and hats off Paula especially after that crash last weekend!)
Thank you Kranjska Gora.❤️ #stifelusskiteam”
Rast’s triumphs carried extra weight amid national mourning in Switzerland. The 26-year-old, who hails near Crans-Montana, wore a black armband both days in tribute to the victims of a devastating New Year’s Eve bar fire at Le Constellation nightclub, which claimed around 40 lives and injured over 100. She dedicated her performances to the affected families, adding a layer of poignancy to her breakthrough weekend.
For the U.S. team, Moltzan’s GS podium highlighted resilience, while strong showings across both days — including top-10 finishes from Nina O’Brien and others — underscored American depth heading into the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics next month.
As the World Cup circuit pauses briefly, Rast’s double serves as a statement: the technical events are wide open, and the Swiss star is rising fast. Shiffrin, still leading the slalom standings by 218 points, will look to rebound in upcoming races.
