‘Mikaela is and will remain the best ever’: skiing’s finest react to Shiffrin’s 100

From overwhelming admiration to wide-eyed disbelief, the very best of the Alpine skiing world are united in utter astonishment at Mikaela Shiffrin’s (USA/Atomic) unique feat of winning 100 times on the World Cup tour.

In the aftermath of the 29-year-old’s never-to-be-forgotten triumph in the Slalom in Sestriere on Sunday, the sport’s greatest have been queueing up to share their thoughts on a milestone most feel will never be matched.

There is no better place to start than with the skier Shiffrin herself idolised growing up.

“100 World Cup victories for Mikaela; unbelievable, spectacular,” Austria’s Annemarie Moser-Pröll, winner of 62 official FIS World Cup titles, said. “She doesn't just want to win; she blows the competition away.

“One thing is certain for me; Mikaela is and will remain the best ever.”

Three-time Olympic champion, Maria Höefl-Riesch (GER), another skier Shiffrin looked up to, could not agree more, adding simply; “You are the best”.

 'This is in the stratosphere…’

 Men’s Austrian skiing legend Franz Klammer can hardly get his head round what Shiffrin has achieved.

“Just imagine going up to 100 (wins). This is in the stratosphere, it’s not in the atmosphere. It’s hard to believe that someone can do it,” Klammer, who triumphed 25 times on the World Cup circuit, said before trying to explain just how she has done it

“Her skiing is so clean. She sets an edge and she lets the ski run. Even though she is technically very precise. She has just the right mixture.

“She can perform in any conditions. Amazing, amazing.”

Marc Giradelli (LUX), like Shiffrin a true all-rounder, could not agree more.

The five-time overall World Cup champion who won across five disciplines, just cannot get over how good Shiffrin is at switching skis.

“Coming from Downhill to Slalom was a big problem for me, it’s like a 100m sprint and the marathon, they are so far apart,” Giradelli laughed. “But Mikaela is a phenomenon, she does it so easily.”

‘A historic event in the sports world’

The impact Shiffrin’s exploits have had and will continue to have on Alpine skiing is something Hermann Maier (AUT), the double Olympic and three-time world champion, loves.

“100 victories is an outstanding milestone, and not just in the history of skiing, this glamorous, incredible achievement also represents a historic event in the sports world,” Maier said.

The Austrian’s final World Cup race was just a couple of years before Shiffrin got started, giving him ample time to admire the way in which the Colorado resident has gone about her record-setting career.

“What also sets Mikaela apart is her naturalness, her authenticity and the joy that she radiates,” he said. “This also has enormous value far beyond skiing.”

‘I will for sure tell my kids one day I beat Mikaela’

That is something Shiffrin’s old rivals agree wholeheartedly with. Many of them just delighted to have competed against the greatest of all time.

“I will for sure tell my kids one day I beat Mikaela, once or twice!” laughed Frida Hansdotter (SWE), who grabbed Olympic Slalom gold in 2018, ahead of the fourth-placed Shiffrin.

“You are an absolutely amazing skier and athlete and what makes you even greater is you have a warm heart and you have always competed with class and respect.”

The love for Shiffrin from even those legends whose records the American has burst past is clear. Two who were winning when Shiffrin first joined the circuit, Tina Maze (SLO) and Viktoria Rebensburg (GER), were so blown away by what their one-time rival has achieved that they… burst into song.

“You are the dancing queen, young and sweet” the pair sung, before urging Shiffrin to “Keep on dancing!” 

‘Nobody can do it again’

Current rivals are just as delighted to be part of the Shiffrin story. Italian Federica Brignone (Rossignol) has been on tour throughout Shiffrin’s century of wins and yet she can still barely believe what she has seen.

‘She made me a better racer’

Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head) is another to have spent most of her career racing the best ever. A fact that has consequences.

“The number 100 means I maybe lost (out on winning) 30 or 40 races myself – so really bad,” laughed Holdener, who finished on a Slalom World Cup podium 30 times before winning her first race two seasons ago.

“But I am happy to have competed with her for those years,” Holdener added, “Because she made me a better racer.”

Perhaps Shiffrin’s biggest rival in the recent times is equally full of admiration, but first and foremost cannot wait to get back racing the American.

“For me, I am more than happy that I am able to compete with you, against you, to beat you, which was very nice. And hopefully it will happen again soon,” said Petra Vlhova (SVK/Rossignol), who is rehabbing from serious injury.

“It’s an amazing achievement you have accomplished for yourself and for our sport,” the reigning Olympic Slalom champion added.

‘Inspiring people to join ski racing’

Another consistent theme to emerge is that Shiffrin has lost none of her humility en-route to this awe-inspiring achievement.

“I want to take this time to highlight the 100 other things you do outside the ski course,” USA teammate Breezy Johnson said.

“Like lending me a helmet that one time that I broke mine, always being willing to talk about technique or training. Being a good roommate to me back when we were 12. Always being such an inspiration.

“It’s those things coupled with how good you are that have really inspired people to join ski racing and have really made the impact that you have.”

‘Looking forward to the next 100’

Given the fact the 29-year-old Shiffrin shows no signs of slowing down, thoughts have already started to move on to what is on the horizon for the record-breaker.

“I am looking forward to the next 100,” double Olympic champion Michelle Gisin (SUI/Salomon) said, smiling, before adding a touch more seriously, “This is the most incredible number.

“I don’t think anyone has ever dreamt of it or thought it possible.”

A 26-year-old with just 57 World Cup starts to her name so far, made the final plea.

“I am dreaming since I am a little girl to have one (win) and she has 100,” Camille Cerutti (FRA/Atomic) said.

“Please give me one!”