American teen Mikaela Shiffrin earned her first career world title Saturday at the Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming, Austria. The 17-year-old becomes the third youngest woman in history to stand atop the slalom podium.
“I haven’t yet realized what just happened. I don’t know if I ever will. It was crazy, there were so many emotions today. In the first run, I wasn’t quite awake and aware of the situation. Two minutes before the second run, I felt I could win and I did!”
Mikaela was the only one to sail under the 1:40 mark Saturday, clocking a time of 1.39.85 to beat Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser by 0.22 seconds. Frida Hansdotter, back another 0.04, took bronze.
The world title caps an incredible sophomore season for Mikaela, who had already won three slalom World Cup titles. At this pace, she’s sure to be one of the favorites in Sochi next February.