Climbing The Ladder: Mikaela Shiffrin ‘s Journey To Pass Vonn As The Next Great American Skier

Ski season is in full swing, and Mikaela Shiffrin wasted no time getting back to her winning ways after a bumpy 2020 season. In the early goings of the 2021 season, Shiffrin boosted her career World Cup win total to 69 and career podiums to 102. At the 2021 World Championships, Shiffrin earned her 11th medal, which extended her own record for most medals by a skier all-time at the world championships. She’s also continuing her climb towards being America’s greatest skier all-time with many of Lindsey Vonn’s records in sight.

Mikaela Shiffrin made her World Cup career debut in 2011 at the age of 15. In her first ten seasons, Shiffrin has been the most sensational skier on tour and has set numerous records. Her 11 medals at World Championship Events are the most all-time male or female, with 6 of them being Gold, compared to Vonn’s 8 medals, and only 2 of those were Gold. Shiffrin has won 45 World Cup Slalom races, which is the most all-time male or female. Mikaela also set the single-season record for most World Cup races won with 17 during the 2019 season, and most races won in a calendar year with 15 in 2018. In addition to these records, Shiffrin is also closing in on records that were set by former American Skier Lindsey Vonn. Shiffrin’s 69 World Cup race wins is 13 shy of Vonn’s 82, and her 102 podiums is 35 shy of Vonn’s 137. Shiffrin also has three World Cup Overall Titles compared to Vonn’s four, and 8 discipline titles compared to Vonn’s 16. Even though Shiffrin won’t be in contention for a World Cup Overall Title this year, she still has 6 races left to get beyond 70 race victories and further narrow the gap between her and Vonn.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s impressive career extends beyond the World Cup Tour. Shiffrin has appeared in both the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics and has earned 3 Medals, including 2 Gold. Shiffrin’s medal count is equal to Vonn’s, but Vonn has just 1 Gold Medal while the other 2 are Bronze. Shiffrin’s next chance to Pass Vonn in total Olympic medals will be at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. If she wins Gold, Mikaela can also pass Ted Ligety and Andrea Mead Lawrence for most Olympic Gold Medals by an American skier.

The 25-year-old Shiffrin will undoubtedly hold every record when her career ends.

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