“Pressure wasn’t entirely off”- Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about competing after earning her 100th World Cup championship

Mikaela Shiffrin admitted to felt great pressure heading into the Slalom finals despite having already won the 100th event of the 2024/25 Alpine Skiing World Cup. Shiffrin was sidelined for two months after sustaining an intestinal puncture in the giant slalom in November 2024, but finished the season with 101 victories.

Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated skier of all time, finished the previous World Cup season with 97 triumphs and added 100 medals in Sestiere, Italy, for the 2024/25 season. She suffered an abdominal injury while participating in the giant slalom at Killington in November 2024. She took a two-month sabbatical to recover and then returned to skiing in good health.

Though she rebounded strongly at the World Championships, winning the team combined event, she was unable to compete for the overall crown. However, her goal was to earn 500 World Cup points to begin off the new season. When asked about the pressure of winning the race at the slalom finals in Sun Valley, she stated:

“When we travelled to Sun Valley, most folks had no idea the pressure was still on. The World Cup points situation, particularly in relation to starting numbers, is a little intricate and a little strange, but long story short. Hitting 500 overall points improves your start number in all disciplines, and it was a significant goal for me to end the season at the 500-point mark to aid with my GS start number for next season. So, that gave me a sense of urgency for the final race.” (2:16 onwards).

Shiffrin was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame following her World Cup triumph.

Mikaela Shiffrin became emotional after achieving her 100th World Cup victory after days of struggling.

Mikaela Shiffrin on the podium at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere 2025—(Source: Getty) Mikaela Shiffrin on the podium at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere 2025—(Source: Getty)

Shiffrin’s injury devastated her as she was on track to win her 100th World Cup title. She went through months of recovery and returned to the slopes, but she was suspicious of giant slalom because she had experienced a puncture in that event.

Mikaela Shiffrin finished first in 1:50.33 on February 23, 2025, followed by Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic and American Paula Moltzan. Following the victory, the 30-year-old posted a carousel of photos on Instagram, thanking her colleagues and loved ones for their unwavering support.

“My team and I have received incredible support, generosity, and congrats. Thank you all so much! Sharing this with teammates, particularly on the podium with @paulamoltzan, was absolutely unforgettable. (And @zrinkaljutic, too!)”
Mikaela Shiffrin has two Olympic gold medals and has been chosen to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2023.

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