Mikaela Shiffrin notched her 85th World Cup success on Saturday to leave the American ski sensation a distance away from the winning record held by Ingemar Stenmark.
Taking the lead in the first stage of the slalom at Spindleruv, Mlyn Shiffrin made it through the second stage to beat Germany’s Lena Duerr by more than half a second.
The Colorado-born ski star is in such irrepressible form that she will be favored to match Swedish icon Stenmark’s tally of more than 30 years in Sunday’s second slalom at the Czech ski resort.
Shiffrin arrived at Spindleruv Mlyn after claiming two giant slalom victories in the space of 24 hours this week at Kronplatz.
That quick double in Italy pushed the 27-year-old skiing phenom within touching distance of the record of 86 wins held by Stenmark.
Tuesday’s 83rd victory had earned her the women’s record for most victories on the elite circuit, which she shared with fellow American retiree Lindsey Vonn.
With another slalom scheduled at Spindleruv Mlyn on Sunday, she could match Swedish icon Stenmark before the end of the weekend.
Stenmark dominated the men’s slalom and giant slalom disciplines for a decade starting in 1975 before retiring in 1989.
Shiffrin bounced back in style after a nightmare at the Beijing Olympics last year where she failed to win a single medal.
And she is the clear favorite to add to her gold medal tally at next month’s World Championships in Courchevel and Meribel.
tba/nr/dmc
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