Mikaela Shiffrin has etched her name deeper into alpine skiing history, clinching a record-breaking ninth World Cup slalom Crystal Globe on January 25, 2026, in Špindlerův Mlýn, Czech Republic. This achievement spans from her first title in 2013 to the current 2025-26 season, marking an unparalleled streak of dominance in the discipline.
Shiffrin Shatters Records: Ninth Slalom Globe Seals Historic Legacy as She Heads to Olympics
The American superstar, now 30, delivered a commanding performance in the final slalom race before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, securing her 108th World Cup victory overall and her 71st in slalom. Winning both runs decisively, Shiffrin finished 1.67 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast in second place, with Germany’s Emma Aicher rounding out the podium.
The victory locked up the season’s slalom title with two races remaining after the Games, making Shiffrin the first skier—male or female—in the six-decade history of the World Cup to claim nine season titles in a single discipline. Previous benchmarks stood at eight, shared by legends like Ingemar Stenmark (slalom) and Lindsey Vonn (downhill).
Shiffrin’s journey began remarkably early. At just 18 years old in March 2013, she captured her inaugural slalom globe, becoming the first U.S. skier to win the discipline title since Tamara McKinney in 1983-84. Over the years, she built an extraordinary run, though one season (2024-25) saw her lead slip after a giant slalom crash, allowing Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic to claim the globe.
Returning stronger than ever this season, Shiffrin has won seven of eight slaloms contested so far, with one second-place finish. Her dominance was evident in Špindlerův Mlýn—a venue full of nostalgia, as it hosted her World Cup debut at age 15 in 2011.
“It’s actually hard to think about that today because there was so much to think about on the race course,” Shiffrin said post-race. “So now it’s like a nice surprise. I feel like when I was 15 years old still… I just love skiing. That’s the best feeling to be here.”
Heading into the Olympics as the overwhelming favorite for slalom gold (scheduled for February 18 in Cortina d’Ampezzo), Shiffrin aims to add to her medal haul after a challenging 2022 Beijing Games. Her current form—combined with 108 total World Cup wins—solidifies her status as one of the greatest alpine skiers ever.
This ninth globe isn’t just a number; it’s a testament to consistency, resilience, and pure passion across more than a decade. As Shiffrin continues her pursuit of excellence, the skiing world watches in awe: nine slalom globes and counting.
