[Sport] Mikaela Shiffrin: ‘Holy crap, that was really good skiing!’ Mom tells US skier after she breaks landmark record

[REFLX]

American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin is having quite the 2023 – and it could get even better before the end of January.

Earlier this week, the two-time Olympic gold medalist secured her 83rd World Cup win to break compatriot Lindsey Vonn’s record for the most wins in women’s skiing after finishing first in the giant slalom at Kronplatz, Italy.

She had topped the standings after the first run, recording a time of 58.72 before capping off a record-breaking day with a second-run time of 1:01.89.

Now, Shiffrin sits only three behind the overall record – in both men’s and women’s skiing – of 86 wins held by Swedish skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark.

“I feel like I don’t push myself if my rivals aren’t pushing me, and my whole career, I’ve always had at least one main rival. That’s always in my mind. What are they doing? What are they working on?” Shiffrin told CNN’s Amanda Davies.

“Even if I’m training alone, I’m always thinking, ‘Can I ski this faster?’ And if I can, then I better because somebody else probably is.”

After she broke Vonn’s record on Tuesday, Shiffrin said her mother’s response was: “Holy crap, that was really good skiing!”

“She’s been one of my coaches for my entire World Cup career,” added the 27-year-old Shiffrin.

“I mean, she taught me how to ski when I was three, and she’s still teaching me how to ski now. So it’s been a pretty incredible journey to take with her.”

According to Shiffrin, her mom also helped the four-time overall World Cup champion learn the knack of remaining calm in competition.

She added: “Of course, the nerves set in … when you get nervous, your legs kind of seize up and get all jittery.

“And it’s so easy at any moment to lose it all with one simple mistake that just comes because you’re a little bit nervous and maybe just too much adrenaline.

“And she’s always reminding me when the skiing is good, I can just focus on doing that, then it’s going to be a good day.

“Whether or not it’s a win, I’ll be happy with it. And the last two days, it ended up in a win as well. So it’s pretty amazing.”

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