The American skier claims her 100th World Cup victory – The weekend at Sestriere ends on a high note with over 30,000 spectators!
The third and final day of racing in Sestriere for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup concluded in spectacular fashion with the Slalom event, once again drawing a massive crowd. More than 30,000 spectators flocked to Sestriere, a popular resort in the Vialattea ski area, to attend the three-day Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup competition.
Following Federica Brignone’s double victory in the Giant Slalom events, victory number 100 in the World Cup came from Mikaela Shiffrin, the Queen of the Snows. On the Kandahar Giovanni Alberto Agnelli slope, the American regained her smile as she claimed the top spot on the podium in Sestriere, cementing her place in skiing history. Never before has any athlete reached the milestone of 100 World Cup wins. Shiffrin’s 100th victory was met with a roar of excitement from the Sestriere crowd, marking a momentous achievement that will forever be etched in the annals of skiing. In the first run, Shiffrin’s time was just 9 hundredths ahead of Croatia’s Zrinca Ljutic and 34 hundredths faster than Austria’s Katharina Liensberger. Mikaela made the difference in the second run, increasing her lead over Ljutic, who finished second at 61 hundredths behind, and her compatriot Paula Moltzan, who placed third with a gap of 64 hundredths.
“I’m really overjoyed,” an emotional Shiffrin said through tears and smiles at the finish line. “It’s an incredible emotion. I’m happy to have shared the podium with Paula and Zrinca on this historic day for me. I could feel the entire crowd in Sestriere supporting me from the starting gate to the finish line. I thank everyone — the athletes, teams, and spectators who supported us over these three days in Sestriere. I also thank all the organizers, volunteers, and everyone who worked hard to make this event a success. It takes a great team to organize a ski race like this, and we wouldn’t be here without all these people. Thank you very much.”
The athletes were honored by Piedmont Regional Councillor Marco Gallo, responsible for the development and promotion of the mountains and snow systems; Claudia Porchietto, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Piedmont Region; and Gualtiero Brasso, president of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sestriere Organizing Committee.
Among the skiing legends who visited Sestriere in recent days were two Italian icons, Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba.
“I have a special connection with Sestriere,” said Deborah Compagnoni. “I won two World Championship gold medals here. I have wonderful memories of the people’s affection and the professionalism of the organizers. It’s a pleasure to be back. I’ve watched some amazing Giant Slalom races by the Italian women, who are truly fantastic. Of course, the great captain is Federica Brignone! Winning the World Championships is a mark that stays with you. She’s technically complete and strong mentally — mature, organized, and knows how to handle everything.”
“It’s been several years since I was last here at Sestriere,” said Alberto Tomba. “It’s been 40 years since my first time. I’m very happy to be back, and I have great memories of Kandahar where I had some of my best victories. Federica is great — now she’s unbeatable.”
The performances of these champions will forever be a part of skiing history, carrying the name of Sestriere into legend and creating unforgettable memories for athletes and fans alike.
The three-day Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup in Sestriere has come to a close. “The great public participation,” explained Gualtiero Brasso, President of the Ski World Cup Sestriere Organizing Committee, “is a testament to the hard work done over the past months. Our thanks go to the institutions that supported us — the Piedmont Region and the Municipality of Sestriere — the sponsors, all the Police Forces, rescue personnel, instructors, aspiring ski instructors, and everyone who contributed to this edition. This success has been reflected around the world, thanks to exceptional media and social media coverage.”
The World Cup in Sestriere was broadcast live by 15 national TV stations, 16 streaming platforms, and 2 radio stations, with numerous articles appearing in major national and local newspapers. Extensive coverage brought Sestriere and the Vialattea into the homes of millions of fans across Europe, the US, Japan, and China. Over the weekend, countless digital content and video clips of the resort and the race site were shared worldwide.
