⛷️ MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec — In the elite, high-stakes world of Alpine skiing, where milliseconds separate champions from also-rans, the measure of success is usually simple: World Cup wins and podium finishes. Yet, for Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated skier in history with a staggering 104 career victories—including 22 in the giant slalom discipline—a tied-for-fourth finish this past weekend in Mont-Tremblant felt like a massive triumph.
The celebration stems from the American star’s remarkable recovery in the one discipline that has haunted her since a terrifying crash over a year ago.
🏔️ The Killington Shadow: Overcoming the Giant Slalom Barrier
The discipline of giant slalom (GS) became a major mental hurdle for Shiffrin after a violent, high-speed crash in Killington, Vermont, at the start of the previous season. The incident resulted in a severe abdominal injury and, more persistently, left a psychological scar that required her to actively confront lingering mental blocks and what she described as “a racket on my brain cells.”
Her struggle was evident. Earlier this season, a 14th-place finish at Copper Mountain, Colorado, would typically be viewed as a major disappointment for a skier of Shiffrin’s caliber. She is, after all, far and away the best technical skier to ever compete. However, leaving Copper, Shiffrin expressed a quiet optimism. That 14th-place result, she explained, represented a critical breakthrough, signifying she had “figured out something” on the course.
The subsequent slalom victory at Copper Mountain, her specialty, certainly provided a confidence boost, but it was the giant slalom progression that truly mattered.
📈 Steady Climb: From Top 30 Fight to Top 5 Contention
Shiffrin’s weekend performance in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, validated her self-belief. Across two days of intense competition, the veteran skier delivered consistent, high-level runs, securing a sixth-place finish on Saturday, followed by a tied-for-fourth finish on Sunday.
For any other athlete, a near-podium result is excellent. For Shiffrin, it represents a monumental return to form in a discipline that had recently seen her fighting just to stay in the seeded Top 30. She has now firmly re-established herself inside the Top 15 GS seed, a critical milestone that grants her earlier start numbers and better course conditions for future races.
“It’s just such huge steps,” she reflected, acknowledging the difficulty of explaining how a fourth-place finish could be celebrated so enthusiastically by a legend who is used to winning. Her progress is a testament to perseverance, mental strength, and the meticulous process of rebuilding confidence after a career-threatening setback.
🎯 Targeting Gold at Milano-Cortina 2026
With two challenging, injury-riddled seasons now firmly in the rearview mirror, Shiffrin is on track to peak at the right moment. This steady progress in the giant slalom is essential preparation for the ultimate goal: the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
By consistently pushing to the front of the field—finishing within range of the podium—Shiffrin is proving she has overcome the mental hurdles of her crash and is reclaiming the technical mastery that has defined her career. Her current form solidifies her status as a favorite not only in slalom but also as a contender for multiple medals in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, confirming that the Alpine skiing star is once again skiing like the best in the world.
You can watch a review of some of her record-breaking runs in this clip: Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Her Third Slalom Race in a Row and Her 103rd World Cup Victory Overall – YouTube This video shows Shiffrin’s dominant performance in slalom, the discipline she won at Copper Mountain just before her progress in giant slalom at Mont-Tremblant.