Mikaela! Shiffrin Claims 5th Straight World Cup Victory, Longest Streak in 20 Years

Mikaela Shiffrin claimed another victory last night and became the first Alpine skier to win five straight World Cup races in 20 years, coming from behind in a night slalom in Flachau, Austria.

Shiffrin won for the eighth time in nine races overall, prevailing by .94 of a second combining times from two runs over Austrian Bernadette Schild.

“This was the first time [this season] that I was coming from behind in the first run, and I had to make a statement,” she said. “That was really important for me, a really big checkmark on the way to the Olympics because when we are there, anything can happen, and I want to be mentally prepared for all those possibilities.”

Shiffrin became the first man or woman to win five straight World Cup races since German Katja Seizinger in 1997. The Coloradoan also tied Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell‘s record for most World Cup wins before turning 23, grabbing her 41st career victory and 10th this season. She is expected to race in next weekend’s downhill and super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy with the chance to make World Cup history.

For contrast, Lindsey Vonn, the female record holder with 78 victories, had seven at this age.

And what a perfect time to be in great form, as the Olympics start next month. Shiffrin is favored to win three gold medals in PyeongChang (slalom, giant slalom, super combined), which would match the record for an Alpine skier at one Olympics. Dare to dream?