ÅRE, Sweden: Mikaela Shiffrin became the most successful racer in the history of World Cup skiing as she won for the 87th time with victory in the slalom at Are on Saturday (Mar 11)."It's pretty hard to comprehend that thought," said Shiffrin after sealing the victory that lifts her ahead of the legendary Swede Ingemar Stenmark whose record of 86 victories she equalled 24 hours earlier by winning the giant slalom at the same venue."My brother and sister-in-law got here.
I didn't know they were coming so that makes it so special," said Shiffrin.Two days shy of her 28th birthday, the American finished 0.92 seconds ahead of second-placed Wendy Holdener to secure her 13th World Cup win of the season at the Swedish ski station where, fittingly, she had opened her World Cup account back in 2012 as a 17-year-old.Are also happens to be Stenmark's own home turf."She is so impressive, she's awesome," Stenmark told AFP by telephone on Saturday."It's great for her, fantastic.
And especially since she beat the record in Are where she won her first World Cup race."After a blistering opening run, she led Sweden's Anna Swenn Larsson by 0.69 seconds at the halfway stage with Holdener of Switzerland third at 0.94sec.Another Swede Cornelia Oehland was quickest on the second run but Shiffrin had enough of a cushion to ease to a convincing and comfortable record-breaking victory."The best feeling is to ski on the second run when ...
you have a lead," said Shiffrin."You have to be smart but also I just wanted to be fast too. And ski the second run like its own race, and I did it exactly how I wanted and that's amazing."Shiffrin secured her fifth overall crystal globe last weekend.By a quirky coincidence, Saturday's record-breaking win comes