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However in a sport with fields as deep as 60 racers, this season’s outcomes spotlight the closeness of the competition between the highest two ranked girls’s skiers who’ve usually separated themselves from their colleagues. Shiffrin has received twice and been second twice. Vlhova has received twice and completed second and third.
Regardless of being the identical age, the 2 racers haven’t at all times been shut rivals. Shiffrin was competing on the World Cup circuit when she was 15 and received her first race on it in 2012. She now has 71 World Cup victories, a profession complete that has been topped solely by Lindsey Vonn’s 82 wins and Stenmark’s 86. Shiffrin has received three Olympic medals, together with two gold medals. Vlhova received the primary of her 22 World Cup races in 2015 and has not received an Olympic medal.
However within the final two seasons, Vlhova has eight World Cup victories to Shiffrin’s 5. Shiffrin also missed months of the World Cup season in 2020 after her father, Jeff, died in an accident on the household residence in Colorado on Feb. 2 that 12 months. After the pandemic delayed or canceled most of her low season coaching later in 2020, a still-grieving Shiffrin returned to racing and remained among the many World Cup elite, however she didn’t totally dominate as she as soon as did. Within the 2018-19 season, for instance, she received an astounding 17 instances.
On Friday, when requested to explain her relationship with Vlhova, Shiffrin additionally cautioned that the World Cup subject was stuffed with many achieved, quick skiers, however she stated that when Vlhova was at her greatest “there’s not an entire lot I can try this’s higher than what she’s doing.”
She added: “And after I ski my greatest, there’s not an entire lot that she or anybody else may do that’s actually higher, both. Nevertheless it’s all at a really excessive degree, and it makes it extra nerve-racking.”
Shiffrin and Vlhova have been clearly amiable after their 4 shut races this 12 months once they’ve hugged, chatted and congratulated one another. Earlier than Sunday’s occasion, they did their prerace course inspection side-by-side and stood not more than six ft aside.
Nonetheless, Shiffrin conceded that being in shut quarters together with her week after week, together with throughout the tense minutes within the cramped begin space earlier than a race, might be unnerving.
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