Two drivers in particular suffer from Shiffrin’s dominance

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Who is the best female skier of all time? This question has not been asked since March 11, 2023 at the latest. On this day, Mikaela Shiffrin (28) rode to her 87th World Cup victory in the Are (Sd) slalom, surpassing the previous record set by Ingemar Stenmark (67, 86 wins). After winning the last race of the winter, Shiffrin now has 88 victories.

But who is currently the best driver behind the American? With Wendy Holdener (29), a Swiss is also an option.

The girlfriend who is (almost) always in front of the sun

Holdener witnessed the record victory in Are up close. She is right behind the American that day – and not for the first time in her career.

“Champion,” says Wendy Holdener as Mikaela Shiffrin crowns herself the greatest skier of all time — at least in this statistic. Without any animosity, Holdener congratulates the exceptional talent on her next entry in the history books. Bitterness that the American is standing in front of the sun again? You don’t feel any. The friends get along too well for that.

“If I already have so many second and third places, then it’s okay, because she was there,” Holdener paid tribute not only to Shiffrin’s athletic achievements that day, but also to their good relationship.

Career richer through twelve World Cup victories and one World Cup title

Anyone watching Holdener’s career can understand a certain bitterness towards Shiffrin. Certainly, Holdener’s vita reads impressively: 34 podiums in slalom, five World Cup wins, five Olympic (one gold) and six World Cup medals (two gold) are included.

But what about taking the American out of the equation?

A very good career would become a sensational one. Holdener has finished second to Shiffrin an impressive 13 times in her World Cup career (out of a total of 20 second places). In 2017, the native of Schwyz is said to have become world champion in slalom in St. Moritz and won a second gold medal in addition to the combination.

She is also second behind the American in the slalom rankings in 2018 and 2023. She wins the small crystal ball twice for the combination that is in danger of extinction and has not been run with a discipline since 2020.

Vlhova often second

Holdener cannot be described as the perennial runner-up to Shiffrin. Petra Vlhova (27), who has no less than 28 World Cup victories to her name – 19 of which in the slalom – has to leave the spot in the sun more often to Shiffrin. The Slovak has already been beaten 15 times by the American alone.

If you limit this statistic to the slalom, then Holdener and Vlhova are tied: both finished best of the competition in twelve races behind Shiffrin.

Source : Blick