Third Globe in a Row for Mikaela

MERIBEL, France (March 21, 2015) - Sweden's Frida Hansdotter brought the pressure but American Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) was prepared, summoning up a strong second run to overtake her for the victory and a third straight Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom title at the finals in Meribel.

Hansdotter, who had challenged Shiffrin's defense of her title all season, was first out of the gate in the first run, putting down a spectacular performance to set the target for Shiffrin. The American was unable to match, standing second .07 back. Shiffrin had come into the race with a 90-point margin, meaning that she needed a top-15 finish to keep the globe.

Mikeala Shiffrin charges down the Roc de Fer course in Meribel to her sixth win of the season. (Getty Images/AFP-Jeff Pachoud)

In the second run, Shiffrin skied cleanly and put down the time to beat. Hansdotter was last down the Roc de Fer course, holding a strong lead most of the way but unable to match Shiffrin on the bottom.

"Frida put a lot of pressure on me but I expected that," said Shiffrin. "She’s a tough fighter and I’ve learned a lot from her - she’s so fast. I had to pull out a lot out of myself in the second run. You saw at the top, she was just crushing. I’m going to watch her video all summer to see how she skis so fast."

In the ever-so-close battle for the overall title, Slovenia's Tina Maze overtook Austrian Anna Fenninger and now holds an 18-point lead going into Sunday's giant slalom finale. Maze finished fourth with Fenninger in 23rd.

The race will be broadcast on Universal Sports Network at 11:00 a.m. EDT, with re-airs at 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin came from behind to score a narrow win over Sweden's Frida Hansdotter to claim the Audi FIS Ski World Cup crystal globe for slalom.
• It was Shiffrin's sixth win of the year and 15th of her career.
• The globe was her third in a row.
• The race will be broadcast on Universal Sports Network at 11:00 a.m. EDT, with re-airs at 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.

AUDIO
Mikaela Shiffrin Post-Race Interview

QUOTES
Mikaela Shiffrin
I’m happy to have the globe and have won the last race of the season. It’s a special day. It was a tough race today, I have to say - a little bit more stressful. Frida put a lot of pressure on me but I expected that. She’s a tough fighter and I’ve learned a lot from her - she’s so fast. I had to pull out a lot out of myself in the second run. You saw at the top, she was just crushing. I’m going to watch her video all summer to see how she skis so fast.