Mikaela Shiffrin had seven straight wins in the slalom, chasing the career 65th World Cup win. But instead, the 24-year-old was beaten with a margin, one second and 31 hundredths, by Petra Vlhova, who got two really good rides in Croatia.

But despite being beaten by an unusually large margin, the American seems to have both feet on the ground - and is now paying tribute to her worst competitor.

- Congratulations, the Snow Queen! It's a pleasure to have you compete on the slopes, Shiffrin writes on Instagram.

Immediately after the competition, Vlhova herself wrote that she was the snow queen.

"I've got it! Today's slalom was perfect from the morning. Two perfect rides and finally at the top of the podium. I can't describe what I feel! I'm the snow queen! ”

Shiffrin has had an unusually messy start to the season, at least to be her.

In the premiere, she was hit by then-17-year-old talent Alice Robinson from New Zealand in the Grand Slalom in Sölden, later noted for her worst placement in four years when she came in a seventeenth place in the Grand Slalom in Courchevel and also chose to stand over the World Cup competition in Val the Isere.

But after double wins in slalom and grand slalom in Austrian Lienz came another human result.

However, it should be added that despite the setbacks, Shiffrin has still taken nine podium places, including four wins, in twelve competitions so far this season.

ARCHIVE: Shiffrin gets annoyed at photographer after heavy first ride in Courchevel:

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