Mikaela Shiffrin is so close to making history that she can almost reach out and touch it. After 97 World Cup race victories, the U.S. alpine skiing legend is just three victories shy of reaching that coveted 100-win milestone, solidifying her legacy in the sport. However, things have not gone her way recently and to the surprise of many, Shiffrin missed out on a podium spot at Sölden.

After missing out on reaching the historic World Cup milestone last season, many expected the skiing star to get back on track at the very first event of the 2024-25 season. However, it was not to be, as Italy’s Federica Brignone had her moment under the spotlight at Sölden. Besides beating Shiffrin to the top spot, the elite skier became the oldest woman to win a World Cup race.

Now heading into the slalom at Levi, all eyes are once again on Mikaela Shiffrin. In fact, as the skier with the most reindeer in the Finnish venue, many expect the American to extend her dominance on Levi Black and win her eight reindeer alongside her 98th World Cup race victory. However, the skier has revealed an interestng insight about her mindset heading into Levi.

In an interview with Ski Racing Media, the 29-year-old explained how the burden of expectations has affected her in the past. “There have been years where I’ve been more aware of expectations, maybe even a little distracted by them,” explained the skiing icon. This year is no different, as the Colorado native has been chasing the 100-win title since last year.

In fact, she recalled how chasing the 50 wins milestone became a taxing endeavor not just physically but mentally as well. “I remember being so focused on that number, and then realizing that it was making me more nervous,” confessed Mikaela Shiffrin.

Instead of being an exhilarating experience where Shiffrin gave it her all, the skier’s nervousness affected her performance. Now, years after surpassing 50 wins, the five-time overall champion may once again be facing similar circumstances. Unfortunately, recent events have only made the task more daunting.

The unforeseen challenges that have hampered Mikaela Shiffrin’s quest

The 29-year-old is already arguably the greatest alpine skiing competitor to ever take to the slopes. She surpassed Ingemar Stenmark’s 87-win record in 2023. However, despite being so close to creating history by becoming the first skier to reach 100, an accident derailed Shiffrin. In January, during the final phase of the 2023-24 season, Shiffrin suffered a brutal crash.

Shiffrin injured her knee in a crash while looking for her 97th World Cup win in the downhill event at Cortina d’Ampezzo. While Shiffrin sustained injuries to her ligaments, the skiing champion didn’t break any bones. However, the six-week recovery that followed derailed her season. Mikaela Shiffrin’s momentum had halted.

Despite bouncing back with slalom wins at Åre, Sweden, and Saalbach, Austria, in March 2024, there was no time to reach the coveted 100-win milestone. Additionally, her fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde’s struggles to recover from his much more severe crash on January 18, 2024, also weighed heavy on Shiffrin.

So it’s not difficult to see how previous incidents coupled with a rocky start at Sölden and the pressure to extend her winning legacy at Levi may feel like too much to handle at times. However, Mikaela Shiffrin is humble ahead of the World Cup race. “I don’t personally care about winning 100, but I do think it’s a monumental moment in the sport,” the 29-year-old said in October. However, only time will tell if the skiing champion can find her way back to the podium in Finland.