Shiffrin Takes Emotional Victory in Semmering

SEMMERING, Austria (Dec. 27, 2016) – Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it was fast and capped off with a double fist pump and celebratory “Yeah!”

Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) won her second career Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom race Tuesday in Semmering, a make up event from last week’s race that was canceled due to wind in Courchevel, France.

“Today I felt really good just going for it,” Shiffrin said when asked about her reaction coming across the finish line and realizing she had won. “I wasn’t trying to ski perfect; I was just trying to ski fast. I believed in myself for the first time in a GS race, and that was very emotional.

Shiffrin celebrates in the finish after winning the GS. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Laurent Salino)

“So many times in GS I think, ‘Oh man, I won that by two seconds!’ And then I see that I’m two seconds behind, and I’m like, uh-oh, that’s embarrassing,” added Shiffrin, who’s other GS victory was in Soelden in 2014. “I never really know for sure, but I had a feeling because I was fighting for it. But I was surprised when I saw the green light, and it was a really nice feeling.”

Tessa Worley of France was second, followed by Manuela Moelgg of Italy in third. Switzerland’s Lara Gut was fourth.

Shiffrin extended her five-point overall World Cup lead over Gut to 55 points with Tuesday’s win. She also moved into second in the overall giant slalom World Cup standings, just 55 points behind Worley, and admitted that there is a chance she could compete for the overall giant slalom title.

“At this point there is still a chance,” she said. “But I have to ski really, really well in every race for the rest of the season. Right now, I’m just trying my best to fight in each race and have fun with it. Today was really fun, and I like that feeling.”

Overall World Cup GS Leader Tessa Worley of France, left, was second, Mikaela Shiffrin first and Italy’s Manuela Moelgg third at Tuesday’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup giant slalom. (Getty/Agence Zoom-Laurent Salino)

Up next, the ladies compete in another giant slalom Wednesday in Semmering, followed by an evening slalom on Thursday. Live streaming will be available on NBCsports.com/live starting at 4:30 a.m. EST Wednesday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin won her second career World Cup giant slalom Tuesday in Semmering, Austria.
• This is Shiffrin's first solo giant slalom victory. Her first giant slalom victory was shared with Anna Veith (then Fenninger) in Soelden, Austria on October 25, 2014.
• Shiffrin’s win was her 24^th overall World Cup victory.
• Resi Stielger (Jackson, WY) hit a rock first run and did not finish. Megan McJames (Park City, UT) did not qualify for second run.
• Road to Aspen: Shiffrin holds a 55-point lead over Switzerland’s Lara Gut in the overall World Cup standings.
• Tessa Worley of France leads the overall World Cup giant slalom standings by 55 points over Shiffrin.

QUOTES
Mikaela Shiffrin
I keep training GS; eventually I have to get good at it, right? That’s my philosophy. Slalom, I make sure to ski it every now and then, but I’ve been doing a lot of GS and hopefully it helps my GS and doesn’t hurt my slalom too much.

[On competing for the overall World Cup title]
I think about it and it’s a dream to win. But I’m not expecting to win this year. Lara (Gut) is so strong in every event, and her GS has been really strong too. But I’m just trying to focus on giant slalom and slalom and see what happens.

Today I felt really good just going for it. I wasn’t trying to ski perfect; I was just trying to ski fast. I believed in myself for the first time in a GS race, and that was very emotional. To win, that’s amazing. But I don’t expect to win every GS now.

So many times in GS I think, ‘Oh man, I won that by two seconds!’ And then I see that I’m two seconds behind, and then I’m like, uh-oh, that’s embarrassing. I never really know for sure, but I had a feeling because I was fighting for it. But I was surprised when I saw the green light, and it was a really nice feeling.

[On competing for the giant slalom World Cup title]
At this point, there is still a chance. But I have to ski really, really well in every race for the rest of the season. Right now, I’m just trying my best to fight in each race and have fun with it. Today was really fun, and I like that feeling.

BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Tuesday, Dec. 27
9 p.m. – Semmering women’s giant slalom – UniversalHD

Wednesday, Dec. 28
4:30 a.m. – Semmering women’s giant slalom – run 1 – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
7:30 a.m. – Semmering women’s giant slalom – run 2 – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
4:30 p.m. – Semmering women’s giant slalom – UniversalHD

Thursday, Dec. 29
9:00 a.m. – Semmering women’s slalom – run 1 – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
11:30 a.m. – Semmering women’s slalom – run 2 – LIVE on NBCSN and LIVE STREAM

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom