Shiffrin Claims Historic 100th Win Alongside Moltzan in Third
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete and greatest alpine skier of all time Mikaela Shiffrin won her 100th World Cup win in Sestriere, Italy with teammate Paula Moltzan just behind in third place.
“Today was just a amazing day in the middle of some really tough months, but I'm very thankful for this day,” said Shiffrin.
It was poised to be a special day when the snowy skies turned sunny the afternoon of the slalom race. The Italian fans came out and were ready to cheer on what would eventually become a historic day. In the first run, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team showed promise with three athletes heading to run two. Shiffrin ran bib four and knifed her run to take the lead by 0.09 seconds. Moltzan, who has had an up-and-down year in slalom races, showed no signs of slowing down as she glided right into fourth place - a great spot for a potential podium leap.
AJ Hurt also skied well to make run two. Katie Hensien and Nina O’Brien did not finish the first run but are OK. Youngster Liv Moritz started in her first slalom World Cup and skied great at the top but lost a little time down near the bottom to land outside of the 30.
The second run was set by Shiffrin’s coach Janne Haarala and it featured a lot of tricky rhythm sections, hairpins and flushes - but it caused no trouble for the U.S. gals. Hurt absolutely nailed her run, gaining time at every split, to cross the line well over a half-second in the lead and set the pace for the women’s team. Hurt would end up 13th overall and second on the second run.
“It's not so steep anywhere so you have to go as hard as you can and that’s what I tried to do today,” said Hurt. “I am feeling good about today and my weekend overall.”
Young Swedish skier Cornelia Oehlund held the lead for more than 10 racers, but Moltzan attacked - wanting that top rung. While she lost a chunk of her lead down to the bottom, she saved enough to take the new lead and eventually move to third place. It was her third podium of the season and first slalom podium of the season.
“I think there were still a lot of mistakes in the second round but I just kept trying to keep my skis down the hill,” said Moltzan. “I knew that everyone in front of me was coming behind Cornelia, so I just wanted to lay everything on the line and see how it played out.”
Finally all eyes were on Shiffrin. She did not have a lot of time to play with, so she had to lay down a run that would give her the victory. At every turn, Shiffrin was skiing to win, gaining time at each interval to clinch her 100th victory. A look of disbelief lay on her face as the emotions set in.
“I feel like the mountain ahead of me is steep and long,” said Shiffrin. “If I get there and when I get there it will be very sweet but for now I just have to take this day and be grateful for it. Because it's a small moment in the middle of many tough moments that makes me feel like maybe I can be good again.”
Shiffrin was notably out of competition for 2.5 months from a brutal injury she sustained in Killington while on her way to her 100th victory in November. It has been an intense road back to victory for Shiffrin - yet on Sunday, she defied the odds and ended up on top. Shiffrin now had 63 slalom wins, 100 wins and 155 World Cup podium finishes.
“It certainly feels like I've been fighting a lot lately and it's been hard to find the right momentum and the right flow,” said Shiffrin. “So to come back and compete with these women who are skiing so strong and so fast is amazing.”
In the finish area her teammates and family greeted her wearing their new “MIK100” shirts to show support of her incredible accomplishment. Drenched in champagne, full of emotions and smiles, Shiffrin walked away from the Sestriere weekend with her illusive 100th win done and dusted.
The next stop on the World Cup tech tour will be in Are, Sweden for a slalom and giant slalom March 8-9.
RESULTS
Women's slalom
