CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – American Mikaela Shiffrin had her streak of victories in slalom at world championships that were ended by Katharina Liensberger on Saturday when the title returned to Austria after 10 years.
Shiffrin had to settle for bronze after winning slalom gold in four consecutive worlds since Marlies Raich – who competed under her maiden name Schild – won in 2011.
This time Shiffrin finished 1.98 seconds behind Liensberger, who had the fastest times in both races. Petra Vlhova, the overall and slalom world champion from Slovakia, was one second behind the Austrian for silver.
After her triumph at the parallel event on Tuesday, Liensberger became double world champion, but still has to win on the World Cup course.
“I really gave everything today,” said Liensberger. “I worked so hard every day in preparation for it.” It’s amazing that it all comes back. If you really want something, the whole universe, it just happens to you. ”
Shiffrin previously won gold in the combined event and took silver in the giant slalom after opening the worlds with bronze in the Super-G. She was only the fifth female skier to win four medals in one world, and for the first time since Swedish star Anja Parson did the feat 14 years ago.
“It’s incredible,” said Shiffrin. “I think there was never a time when I could have said,” I win four medals in a world championship. “But it’s one thing to dream of getting the medals, but when it comes down to it, having skiing well enough to do that, especially for the World Cup, is really special do it four times. “
Shiffrin’s previous world title came in her record-breaking 2018-19 World Cup season, winning 17 races on the way to her third overall title.
This season is a different one for the American. After the death of her father, Jeff Shiffrin, she took a 10-month break from racing last year, which was followed by the coronavirus pandemic and a back injury.
“If this was last year, I might be disappointed, but not so grateful for the good moments of the day,” said Shiffrin. “Maybe” normal “will just change all the time. I disagree with what normal means now. Here, for the past two weeks, every day has been special and it’s something to smile about.”
