Shiffrin Soars to Record-Tying Win in Åre, Aicher and Holdener Complete Podium

Mikaela Shiffrin let out a scream at the finish line, and who could blame her. The Olympic slalom champion claimed her eighth slalom victory of the World Cup season and 109th World Cup race win of her career on Sunday in Åre, Sweden — a mountain that holds a uniquely special place in her story.

Racing in sunny conditions, Shiffrin dominated the last race before the World Cup Finals, beating Emma Aicher of Germany by 0.94 seconds, with Switzerland's Wendy Holdener a further 0.06 seconds back in third.

It is a special venue for Shiffrin — the site of her first World Cup victory back in December 2012, and the location of her record-breaking 87th World Cup win in 2023. "This is one of the places I just feel a little bit at home, like my heart feels a bit at home," she said. "So that's a really helpful thing, especially these races at the end of the season."

The victory is historically significant. Shiffrin's eighth slalom win of 2025-26 ties the record for most slalom victories in a single season — a mark she previously set herself in 2018-19, which was level with Janica Kostelic's tally from 2000-01. Should Shiffrin win the slalom at the World Cup Finals in Lillehammer, she would own the record outright.

Second place on Sunday marked a landmark result for Aicher, who has emerged as the season's great story. It was a career-best slalom result for the German all-rounder, who in recent weeks has become a genuine threat to Shiffrin's bid for what would be a record-equalling sixth overall title. 

That overall battle remains very much alive. Shiffrin leads Aicher by 140 points in the overall standings with four races remaining — one each of downhill, super-G, giant slalom and slalom at the World Cup Finals. Each race win is worth 100 points.

Shiffrin was gracious about the challenge Aicher has mounted all season. "Emma is skiing just incredibly in every event," she said. "She's skiing the best of everybody in all disciplines. So I will fight, but I want to take my hat off to her for the season she had."

For her part, Aicher faces a steep but not impossible task in Norway. She must finish on the podium in at least one of the first two Finals races — the downhill and super-G — to have any realistic chance of seizing the overall lead from Shiffrin before the technical events conclude the season on March 24.

Holdener's bronze adds another chapter to her long and consistent World Cup career, while Canada's Amelia Smart finished 20th, 3.15 seconds behind the winner.

The World Cup Finals get underway in Kvitfjell and Lillehammer from March 21, where Shiffrin will have the chance to make history once more — and Aicher will be right behind her, pushing every gate.