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Mikaela Shiffrin stands as the greatest alpine skier of all time. She stamped her authority furthermore at the 2023/24 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World, winning race after race. She now holds seven reindeers after the latest victory in the first slalom race of the World Cup season in November. With only a few short of her own sleigh, the Olympic champion is giving Santa Claus a run for his money.

As Christmas graced us all, several US athletes took to social media to share their Christmas messages. Shiffrin chose a unique way, a way she is the master of, to wish her fans on this auspicious occasion.

Mikaela Shiffrin shares a heartwarming Christmas wish

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Taking to Instagram, Mikael Shiffrin reposted the picture of her latest prized reindeer at Levi. Sharing her Christmas wishes, Shiffrin wrote, Merry Christmas. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season”. Each year, the winner of the annual World Cup slalom race in Levi, Finland, receives a reindeer as a prize, and Mikaela Shiffrin has won seven of them cumulatively so far. The 28-year-old is now only two shy of tying her own sleigh.

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The prized picture she shared included a smiling Shiffrin, a happy Santa, and a beautiful reindeer, which is eventually named ‘Grogu’. The 2x Olympic Gold Medalist won ‘Grogu’ after edging Petra Vlhova in a thrilling contest. She finished 2nd in the first run but overtook the Slovakian in the 2nd run to win her 89th World Cup race and 7th reindeer. Before she could name her 7th reindeer ‘Grogu’, Shiffrin faced a tough decision as to which name to select.

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Shiffrin names her latest reindeer

The queen of alpine skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin, has triumphed at Santa Claus Village seven times, the first being in 2013. As she won her seventh this year, the 28-year-old had a lot of names to choose from but eventually went with ‘Grogu’. The other suggestions she received from fans included ‘Muffin’, ‘Loopie’, ‘Iga, ‘Lucky(no.7), and a Petra Vlhova dedicated name. She settles on Grogu as an allusion to Baby Yoda and certain idiosyncrasies.

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Shiffrin acknowledged the Petra Vlhova dedicated suggestion ‘Petra’. “Love the idea of paying tribute to @petravlhova13’s performances over the weekend.”, she expressed. The snow queen further added that Petra played a vital role in her performances, pushing her to do better. With only a couple more needed, Shiffrin will surely be eyeing to tie the Santa’s sleigh.

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