Mikaela Shiffrin clinches overall season title but Stenmark’s record still eludes her
No record, but a title nonetheless.
Mikaela Shiffrin clinched the overall season title Saturday with a tie for fifth in the downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. There are still seven World Cup races left, but it is mathematically impossible for anyone to catch Shiffrin in the overall standings.
“It’s quite special to have it now already,” she said after the race. “I can take a little bit of weight off my shoulders.”
It’s the fifth overall title of Shiffrin’s career, breaking a tie with fellow American Lindsey Vonn and leaving her one shy of the women’s record set in the 1970s by Annemarie Moser-Proell. Shiffrin has also clinched the season slalom title and remains in the running for the giant slalom globe.
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As for that other record, Shiffrin remains one win away from matching Ingemar Stenmark’s mark of 86 World Cup victories. Shiffrin knew as soon as she crossed the finish line Saturday that she wouldn’t be catching the Swedish legend in this race, finishing 0.79 seconds behind eventual winner Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway.