Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson win team combined at worlds; Shiffrin smashes the gold record

Americans Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson won the inaugural team combined event in global Alpine Skiing Championships history, giving Shiffrin a record-tying 15th career global medal and a modern-era record-breaking eighth gold medal.

Johnson, who won the downhill world title last Saturday, ran the fourth-fastest downhill on Tuesday. Shiffrin finished third in the slalom run, her second race since being sidelined for two months after a big slalom collision on November 30.

They won by 39 hundredths of a second against Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami and Wendy Holdener.

The team combined will make its world championship debut this year and its Olympic debut next year, succeeding the individual combined. Nations send up to four pairs comprising one downhill skier and one slalom skier for one run each. The final standings are decided by combined times.

“Thank you for a memory that tops the list of any medal I’ve ever won,” Shiffrin told Johnson at a reception later Tuesday. She had won 14 medals in 17 individual race starts at worlds dating back to 2013.

Shiffrin equalled the all-time record with her 15th world championship medal. She had already held the modern-era record since Worlds became a biennial event during World War II. In the 1930s, worlds were held on a yearly basis.

Shiffrin also beat her record for most gold medals in the contemporary era. She was tied for seventh with Toni Sailer, Marielle Goitschel, Anja Pärson, and Marcel Hirscher.

Shiffrin competed for the second time since suffering oblique muscle tears in a major slalom collision on November 30.

Only four days ago, a Shiffrin-Johnson coupling on the team would have been regarded inconceivable from both skiers’ perspectives.

The U.S. pairings were chosen by “data-driven selection criteria,” including “matching the top downhill skier with the top slalom skier based off of season-best results, then moving down the list of athletes to create four potential teams.”

“I’m inspired by this event, which was a little unexpected,” Shiffrin said on Peacock. “The vibe around it, teaming up and feeling like we’re doing it together was so cool.”

Shiffrin, the top slalom skier in the United States, had intended to forego the team combination to focus on preparation for Thursday’s giant slalom, which would have been her first GS since the November 30 collision.

She revealed on Monday that she was not prepared to race the GS at worlds, citing mental barriers to returning to the discipline. This freed up time to join the combined. Coaches stated she would be matched alongside Johnson if she opted to run.

“(Breezy) was like, ‘Hey, it’s not for the medals,'” Shiffrin explained. “Do it because it’s insanely enjoyable. Do it because you enjoy skiing and want to be here.’ Since Courchevel (her first race, a slalom on January 30), I’ve been repeating, ‘It’s terrifying, but I want to be here.’ I haven’t been very motivated to be here in the previous two weeks. I felt it was too (expletive) scary.”

Shiffrin is slated to compete in Saturday’s slalom at Worlds.

Johnson entered the World Cup rated second among US downhill skiers this season, trailing only Lauren Macuga.

On Saturday, she won the world downhill championship, her first top-level racing triumph, and was teamed with Shiffrin three days later.

“Today was probably more pressure, just wanting to do something for somebody who has been such a huge part of my career,” Johnson told reporters.

Shiffrin said she and Johnson, both 29, had been racing together since they were 11 years old.

“When we met I had been told for years that my intensity and drive in the sport ‘intimidated the other kids,’ and that I needed to ‘calm down and take this less seriously,'” Johnson wrote about Shiffrin for her 2020 birthday. “Then I shared a room with a calm girl named Mikaela. She was ambitious, earnest, and hard-working, and no one could stop talking about her. I had always admired World Cup racers, but when I met you, I saw what a small World Cup racer looked like.”

The remaining U.S. couples finished fourth (Macuga and Paula Moltzan), tenth (Jackie Wiles and Katie Hensien), and sixteenth (Lindsey Vonn and AJ Hurt).

Vonn finished 21st in the downhill run, 2.51 seconds behind Macuga, as she begins her comeback after a five-year sabbatical.

Vonn intends to retire permanently after the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, if she makes the squad next winter, which would include her final world championship event.

Vonn will skip Thursday’s giant slalom and Saturday’s slalom to focus on the speed events of downhill (where she finished 15th last Saturday) and super-G.

On Wednesday, the men’s team combined will be shown live on Peacock at 4 and 7:15 a.m. ET.

FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships 2025 Results – Women’s Team Combined

Gold: Breezy Johnson/Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) — 2:40.89
Silver: Lara Gut-Behrami/Wendy Holdener (SUI) – +.39
Bronze medallists: Stephanie Venier/Katharina Truppe (AUT) (+.53), Lauren Macuga/Paula Moltzan (USA) (+.64), Mirjam Puchner/Katharina Liensberger (AUT) (+.69), Cornelia Huetter/Katharina Huber (AUT) (+.75), Corinne Suter/Camille Rast (SUI) (+.76), Nicol Delago/Marta Rossetti (ITA) (+.93), and Ilka Stuhec/Andreja Slokar (SLO) (+1.08).

Mikaela Shiffrin’s mother Eileen writes a heartwarming note for the World Cup winner on her birthday

Mikaela Shiffrin’s mother, Eileen, wrote a heartwarming tribute in honour of the Alpine Skiing World Cup champion’s birthday. The American Alpine skier recently turned 30, following a stunning comeback in the 2024/25 season.

Shiffrin had an injury early in the Alpine Skiing season and required surgery. Mikaela Shiffrin resumed skiing after a six-week rehabilitation and recuperation program. The American skier made history by capturing her 100th World Cup championship at Sestriere.

A few weeks later, Shiffrin celebrated her 30th birthday, and Eileen sent a poignant letter on Instagram about their friendship. She described how her daughter emerged stronger and wiser after overcoming several flaws and difficulties in her life.

Eileen also acknowledged her admiration for Mikaela Shiffrin’s tenacity and commitment to achieve her goals.

“Happy birthday, world’s best daughter. I am very grateful for the limitless joy you have brought into my life over the last 30 years. Your inner beauty is distinct, and it reminds me of your remarkable and loving Nana. You are the most sincere and kind-hearted living being. “I have treasured every moment we’ve been able to share on this crazy adventure we’ve been stumbling through forever,” she wrote.

“We’ve experienced unfathomable and paralysing heartbreak in recent years. Through it all, you never lost your sense of kindness, and like a phoenix, you rose above it all, stronger, wiser, and more determined,” she said.

 

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A post shared by Eileen Shiffrin (@eileenshiffrin)

Eileen wrote a kind email following Mikaela Shiffrin’s 100th World Cup victory.

Eileen Shiffrin competed in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships – Women’s Giant Slalom (Source: Getty).

Mikaela Shiffrin’s mother, Eileen, sent a moving tribute on Instagram when the American skier won her 100th World Cup last year. Eileen praised her daughter’s outstanding achievements and drive to succeed in her job.

Her mother sent heartfelt congratulations to all of the World Cup winners.

“Congratulations to all of these athletes on their bravery, resilience, and persistence, not to mention performance. And to Miki, who believed she wouldn’t ski again this season, a gold medal in an inaugural WSC event, as well as a record-breaking 100th place finish. “These women continue to amaze me,” she wrote.

Eileen Shiffrin was amused by the skiers’ outstanding performances despite many ups and downs.

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Mikaela Shiffrin sets World Cup podiums record with 3rd place in a slalom won by Katharina Truppe

In the world of alpine skiing, few athletes have managed to etch their names into the annals of history as indelibly as Mikaela Shiffrin. On March 9, 2025, in the picturesque slopes of Åre, Sweden, Shiffrin once again demonstrated her unparalleled prowess by securing her 156th World Cup podium finish, surpassing the legendary Ingemar Stenmark’s long-standing record. This monumental achievement was complemented by Austria’s Katharina Truppe, who clinched her maiden World Cup victory in the same slalom event.

Mikaela Shiffrin: A Legacy of Excellence

Born on March 13, 1995, in Vail, Colorado, Mikaela Shiffrin’s journey to skiing supremacy began at an early age. Her prodigious talent was evident when she clinched the slalom bronze at the junior world championships in 2011 at just 15 years old. Over the years, Shiffrin’s dedication, discipline, and relentless pursuit of perfection have propelled her to the zenith of alpine skiing. By March 2025, she had amassed 100 World Cup victories, eclipsing Stenmark’s previous record of 86 wins.

Shiffrin’s career has been characterized by her versatility across disciplines, from slalom to giant slalom, super-G, and downhill. Her technical precision, mental fortitude, and adaptability have made her a formidable competitor, consistently setting new benchmarks in the sport.

The Historic Race in Åre

The slalom event in Åre on March 9, 2025, was highly anticipated, not just for the competition but for the potential history-making moment. Shiffrin led after the first run, showcasing her characteristic agility and technique. However, the second run presented challenges with deteriorating conditions. Despite these hurdles, Shiffrin secured a third-place finish, marking her 156th podium and setting a new World Cup record.

Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin expressed satisfaction, stating, “I actually feel pretty good about it. I maybe wasn’t always perfect but I was pushing really hard.”

Katharina Truppe’s Moment of Triumph

While Shiffrin’s record-breaking podium was a focal point, the day belonged to Austria’s Katharina Truppe. At 29, Truppe clinched her first World Cup victory, a testament to perseverance and resilience. Starting sixth after the first run, she delivered a stellar second run, navigating the challenging conditions with finesse to claim the top spot.

An elated Truppe remarked, “I’m a little bit speechless because I was just so nervous at the start… First victory, it’s crazy. I will enjoy it and soak up all this emotion.”

The Competitive Landscape and Future Prospects

The 2024-2025 World Cup season has been a tapestry of emerging talents and seasoned athletes. The slalom discipline, in particular, has witnessed intense competition. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic leads the slalom standings with 515 points, followed by Switzerland’s Camille Rast with 474 points, and Austria’s Katharina Liensberger closely trailing with 464 points.

Shiffrin’s limited participation in slalom races this season, due to recovery from injuries sustained in a crash at Killington, Vermont, has impacted her standings. Despite these challenges, her performances have been commendable, reflecting her resilience and commitment to the sport.

The Road Ahead

As the World Cup season approaches its finale, athletes are gearing up for the concluding events. The final slalom race is scheduled for March 27 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Shiffrin, along with other top contenders, will aim to conclude the season on a high note. Discussing her plans, Shiffrin mentioned, “Somehow we have to get to the USA, but there are some travel challenges… I guess one more race this season for me but I’m looking forward to it.”

Conclusion

Mikaela Shiffrin’s record-breaking 156th World Cup podium is a testament to her enduring excellence and influence in alpine skiing. Her journey, marked by relentless dedication and an unyielding passion for the sport, continues to inspire both contemporaries and aspiring athletes. Simultaneously, Katharina Truppe’s maiden victory underscores the spirit of perseverance and the ever-evolving competitive landscape of women’s alpine skiing. As the season draws to a close, fans and athletes alike eagerly anticipate the culmination of a year filled with remarkable performances and historic milestones.