Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin has added yet another impressive victory to her illustrious career. The former Olympic champion secured the 102nd win of her career by triumphing in the opening race of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup held in Lapland, Finland.
Shiffrin overcame a strong challenge from Albanian competitor Lara Colturi, finishing the final run with a margin of 1.66 seconds. Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin expressed her excitement and revealed that she deliberately avoided taking unnecessary risks to protect her significant lead.
With this victory, Mikaela Shiffrin has started her qualification journey for the Winter Olympics on a strong note. According to the current qualification process, athletes must accumulate 120 Olympic FIS points in the giant slalom event and secure a spot within the top 30 rankings by the end of the qualification deadline—regardless of gender—to qualify for the Winter Olympics.
Shiffrin’s last Olympic medal in giant slalom came at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, where she won the women’s giant slalom event and also earned a silver medal in the combined event.
**Mikaela Shiffrin on Competing at the Winter Olympics**
Looking ahead to next year’s Winter Olympics, the 30-year-old alpine skier has shared candid thoughts about her potential participation. In a conversation with the Olympics’ website, Shiffrin highlighted the strength of the American skiing team and her perspective on earning a spot. She said:
> “So I love it, and even if I don’t race it at the Olympics, it’s not out of the cards for me as a whole. Maybe it’s just one of those things that the timing doesn’t line up. One thing about the Games that I’m always really aware of, and especially this year, because we have an incredible (U.S.) team of athletes, multiple medal contenders. I don’t want to be taking a spot that I don’t earn and deserve to be there. So I’m fully OK letting go of that—when the time comes—if that is how it rolls.”
**Overcoming Challenges and Looking Forward**
In an interview held in early 2025, Shiffrin opened up about her nerves during this season’s comeback, especially after dealing with an injury last season. She shared:
> “I am so happy. After how I ended last season, it was a waiting game, and in the end, racing was the next step in the preparation phase to get the race mentality, and I felt like my mind and my body were connected today. I was so nervous this whole week.”
Shiffrin had a disappointing experience at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and is now aiming for a strong comeback with another gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, scheduled for next year.
With her talent, determination, and recent form, Mikaela Shiffrin remains a top contender and an inspiring figure in alpine skiing as she prepares for the biggest stage once again.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-how-mikaela-shiffrin-s-102nd-world-cup-win-gives-strong-start-olympic-qualification