Just a few weeks ago, Mikaela Shiffrin was chasing her 100th World Cup win in Killington. However, fate had other plans for the American skier, as she crashed during her second run, resulting in a severe injury. With a deep puncture wound and severe muscle trauma on the right side of her abdomen, she immediately received care and is currently undergoing recovery.

However, despite being away from the sport she adores, she is aware of the events that are taking place. While not achieving that 100th World Cup at home was a bummer, she is still rooting for the skiers on the snow. And this time in St. Anton, a fellow American skier has achieved a big feat, leaving Shiffrin stunned.

Couldn’t be happier for her

Guess who made history at the Super-G in St. Anton? It was Lauren Macuga. Yes, the 22-year-old has earned her first-ever World Cup victory, and with this feat, she also became the first female American skier to secure the super-G in St. Anton. Fascinating, isn’t it? Absolutely! She executed a flawless run down the slope, and given the conditions of the snow, who could blame her?

The whole race was almost flawless, as Macuga was 0.68 seconds ahead of Austria’s Stephanie Veiner, who came second in the home race, followed by Italy’s Federica Brignone, who finished third. Indeed, the podium was close, but not close enough to challenge the American skier’s victory. And the moment this reached her fellow American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, she was nothing but happy for her teammate, stating, “Waking up to this had me…LET’S GOOOOO!!”

Indeed, Shiffrin is still healing from her injuries, but she was glad that the American flag was at the top step of the podium. This victory marks the first of many victories to come for this promising 22-year-old. But what was Macuga’s reaction after the race? “It felt like I was pushing it, but I kept getting pushed late, getting low in the line, but I think that actually helped me to be clean and really go into it,” the American skier said after her first World Cup victory. Indeed, only a skier can truly understand the severity of the conditions, yet she triumphed despite the odds.

But was this the only highlight of the race for the Americans? Not really. Remember Lindsey Vonn? Yes, the skier that came out of retirement after a long time? Indeed, what she did was also remarkable, as she just made it to fourth place, and she just made her return in the current season. Now that’s a proud American team right there! Shiffrin is currently out of the game, but when she returns, she is likely to win her 100th World Cup, an event that the skiing world is eagerly anticipating. And while she is recovering, recently she has also acknowledged her rivals and wished them good luck for the season.

Mikaela Shiffrin never forgets to acknowledge her rivals

Mikaela Shiffrin’s horrific injuries from Killington have kept her out of action for the time being, but she is making progress. And throughout her esteemed skiing career, she has had her fair share of competitors. But are there any skiers who stand out at the top of her list? Yes, there are in fact two skiers, who are Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson and Sara Hector.

Speaking to SVT Sport, the 99-time World Cup winner unveiled her thoughts on her Swedish rivals, stating, “Yeah, I mean this year, of course, the two are the friendliest, happiest, and most motivated athletes in the World Cup, so it’s always a pleasure to train with them. It’s a pleasure to race against them, and it’s been really wonderful to watch their success over the course of my career. I’ve seen also with them growing up and having their own success, it’s been wonderful, and they’re always pushing me to do better too.” 

Since turning pro in 2011, Shiffrin has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous skiers. However, these two skiers have presented her with significant challenges on the ice, and they have also had moments where their camaraderie has been evident. Indeed, they are fierce competitors on the snow, but the moment they get off of it, they are nothing but great friends!