Ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has won the overall World Cup for the fifth time in her career. Fifth place in the Kvitfjell downhill was enough for the American to secure the big crystal globe two weeks before the end of the season. With seven missing World Cups, the 27-year-old can no longer be caught.
The two-time Olympic champion has won eleven titles so far this season, five each in slalom and giant slalom and one in super-G. “The overall World Cup was my goal for the season. I was so focused on it that I never wanted to bring it up in interviews. I’m just happy,” said the exceptional athlete.
Weidle had to give up after a blunder
Local hero Kajsa Vickhoff Lie took victory in the penultimate descent of the winter and celebrated her first World Cup success ever. Second went to Sofia Goggia of Italy, who secured her fourth downhill overall victory in her career. Goggia missed her sixth title of the season in the supreme discipline by 29 hundredths of a second. Third was Corinne Suter from Switzerland.
Germany’s best speed driver Kira Weidle made a big mistake in the Norwegian mountains. The 27-year-old slammed his hand against a goal and had to give up a few seconds later. The suit of the native of Stuttgart was also damaged. “Kira can move his hand and fingers and therefore rules out a serious injury,” said the German Ski Association.
Emma Aicher from SC Mahlstetten finished 23rd in the points, Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger (36th) disappointed. On Sunday there is another Super-G for the women in Kvitfjell. Then Shiffrin could celebrate her 86th World Cup victory and draw level with Swedish ski legend Ingemar Stenmark.
