Ruthless Shiffrin Storms To Record 102nd Win As Olympic Slalom Season Begins

American Mikaela Shiffrin laid down a marker for nan Olympic play up by obliterating her rivals to easy triumph nan opening Alpine Ski World Cup slalom title connected Saturday.

The 30-year-old was successful a people of her own, going quickest connected some her runs to triumph by 1.66 seconds for her ninth profession triumph successful Levi and a record-extending 102nd World Cup victory.

Albanian Lara Colturi was 2nd connected her 19th day while chap youngster Emma Aicher of Germany was 3rd for nan first World Cup slalom podium of her career.

Shiffrin’s triumph looked assured from nan infinitesimal she put down what she described arsenic a “near perfect” opening tally that gave her an advantage of much than 1 second.

She was spotless again connected her 2nd tally done nan gates to adhd a ninth reindeer to her herd – nan accepted prize for winners of nan slalom arena successful nan Arctic Circle resort.

“I trusted nan training and nan awesome activity complete nan summer,” said Shiffrin, who will beryllium going for a 3rd Olympic golden badge astatine nan Milano-Cortina Games successful February.

“It was really bully to title today. This play it’s important to commencement pinch a really bully mentality. I’m conscionable ace happy. This is starting to consciousness much for illustration home.“

With Shiffrin sidelined for a ample chunk of past play because of an abdominal wounded sustained successful a bad clang successful Killington, Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic won nan World Cup slalom title from Swiss Camille Rast.

Mikaela Shiffrin successful action during nan Alpine Ski World Cup slalom connected Saturday astatine Levi, Finland. Photograph: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images

But immoderate proposal that nan baton was passing to nan younger procreation was dismissed by Shiffrin successful ruthless manner connected Saturday arsenic she showed that she is still astatine her peak.

Italian-born Albanian Colturi looks 1 of those tin of challenging Shiffrin aft 2 awesome runs, moreover if she will person to hold a while longer for her first World Cup win.

All-rounder Aicher was besides awesome arsenic she completed nan podium while American Paula Moltzan made up 15 places connected her 2nd tally to decorativeness associated 4th pinch Germany’s Lena Duerr.

It has been an awesome commencement to nan play for Moltzan who was runner-up successful nan season-opening elephantine slalom successful Soelden.

Ljutic had to settee for sixth spot while slalom world champion Rast was a disappointing 15th.