Mikaela Shiffrin was on the verge of creating history a month back. Standing at 99 World Cup victories, Shiffrin came to Killington in search of her 100th victory. And things seemed to be going perfectly according to the plan. Starting the race on a positive note, the US skiing icon led the race initially before doomsday dawned on her. In a shocking turn of events, Shiffrin suffered a horrible crash, leading her to bump into the safety netting. 

Going into a shock immediately, the Alpine skiing legend was rushed to the hospital. While it was revealed that Shiffrin suffered puncture wounds, her return to the competitive scene has been shrouded in mystery as of now. However, in the absence of Shiffrin, her teammate, Lauren Macuga, is ensuring that the flag of the United States keeps flying high. Competing in the Super G race at St. Anton, Macuga made history. 

The 22-year-old skier put up an incredible performance to clinch her maiden Super G victory. Previously, her best result on the snow was a fourth-place finish at the Beaver Creek downhill back in December 2024. Clinching the top spot, Macuga was 0.68s clear of the second-placed Stephanie Veiner from Austria. While the victory was indeed a special one, Macuga also etched her name in the history books with the win. 

The US skier became the very first female to secure a top-place finish in St. Anton. Naturally, her happiness grew no bounds. “I can’t believe it. It’s so exciting! | don’t even think the nerves have settled. I’m just waiting for it to hit me. This is a dream. I’ve been dreaming of this forever.” She also mentioned that over the past few races, Macuga got the feeling that she was close to securing her maiden title. However, it was beyond her imagination that the special moment would dawn on her so fast. 

And this was not a simple race by any means. Apart from Veiner, the race also featured the Italian legend, Federica Brignone, who came third. It also had a resilient Lindsey Vonn, who impressed once again, securing a fourth-place finish. Thus, such an incredible feat naturally made Mikaela Shiffrin jump out of excitement. Taking to her X account, the alpine skiing star exclaimed, “Waking up to this had me…LET’S GOOOOO!!” Thus, it is quite evident that despite being MIA, Shiffrin is supporting her teammates from her home. Meanwhile, not only her teammates, the owner of 99 World Cups also holds her rivals in high regard.

Mikaela Shiffrin did not shy away from acknowledging her rivals for pushing her to greater heights 

The queen of modern skiing knows how to keep it graceful both on and off the slopes. Despite facing a temporary setback due to her injuries from Killington, Shiffrin has taken a moment to do something not many top-tier athletes openly embrace. Alongside grabbing titles and wins she also knows how to extend her heartfelt acknowledgment even to her rivals. 

In a candid conversation with SVT Sport, Shiffrin showered praise on the duo, Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson and Sara Hector. Crediting their impact on her career. Shiffrin shared, “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.” Her admiration extends beyond their skills on the slopes, highlighting their positivity and drive, which she finds both inspiring and motivating.

Shiffrin’s career has been defined by the relentless pursuit of excellence. But it’s competitors like Swenn-Larsson and Hector who keep pushing her boundaries. “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,” she added. Such heartfelt words truly reveal the mutual respect and camaraderie that exists among champions, even in a fiercely competitive arena.