UPDATE: In a thrilling finish, Mikaela Shiffrin triumphed at the World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria, on December 28, 2025, marking her sixth consecutive victory. Shiffrin overcame challenging conditions to secure the win, moving up three places in the final run and finishing just 0.09 seconds ahead of Camille Rast.
“This was a really hard day, tough conditions, a really big fight,” Shiffrin said in an emotional NBC interview. “It didn’t feel good, but I pushed through.” Shiffrin’s performance was especially significant as it was her biggest deficit overcome in a slalom victory since 2013.
The weather tested the athletes as the course was described as “past the limit” of safety, with numerous skiers struggling. A total of 39 competitors faced disqualifications, including American teammates Liv Moritz and Kjersti Moritz. Shiffrin expressed her concerns about the course conditions, advocating for adjustments during the race.
After the first run, Shiffrin was in fourth place, but she rallied to post the fastest second run by 0.63 seconds. “What I did better was one less mistake,” she noted, highlighting the critical nature of precision in such conditions. Rast, who ended up second, acknowledged the razor-thin margin, stating, “Nine-hundredths is not a lot; the smallest mistake can cost you.”
Shiffrin’s victory further extends her lead in the slalom standings, now ahead of Colturi by 220 points. She also maintains a strong position in the overall crystal globe standings, leading by 195 points over Rast.
Lara Colturi, finishing third, celebrated her fourth podium in five races, showing promise for the future. “It’s amazing to finish the year with a podium,” she said, expressing her determination to continue pushing her limits.
The women’s World Cup circuit now heads to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, next weekend for more action, including a giant slalom and slalom event. With only three races remaining before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, all eyes will be on Shiffrin as she seeks to extend her remarkable streak.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as Shiffrin continues to redefine excellence in the alpine skiing world.
