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Racer Mikaela Shiffrin: More talented, more disciplined and harder-working than the competition

Photo:

Alessandro Trovati / AP

Alpine ski racing is struggling with poor future prospects.

Glaciers are melting and slopes are thawing as a result of global warming.

The international racing series of the World Federation Fis was thrown into disarray this year by unpredictable weather.

In addition, the professional circus is losing importance because there is a lack of stars to electrify the masses.

96 World Cup victories, a lonely record

For years now, the show of the best skiers in the world has basically been carried solely by the charisma of the series winner Mikaela Shiffrin from Colorado.

The American has achieved 96 World Cup victories in Alpine racing in her career.

A lonely record.

Even before the season finale, which begins this weekend in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, the Olympic champion and world champion was crowned the overall winner in the slalom for the eighth time - even though she was unable to take part in some races due to an injury.

Shiffrin, 29, is a phenomenon; she is more talented, disciplined and hard-working than the competition.

She also provides entertainment outside of competitions through her relationship with the top Norwegian ski racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

The couple presents themselves on social media sometimes with video clips from vacation or a New Year's Eve party, sometimes with films from training together.

At almost 100 kilometers per hour into the safety fence

You can see two athletes who explore the limits of their sport - and also fail.

Kilde fell on the Lauberhorn descent in Wengen in January, suffered a cut on his lower leg and dislocated his shoulder.

Two weeks later, his girlfriend crashed into a safety fence at a speed of almost 100 kilometers per hour.

Shiffrin was unable to race for six weeks.

The two visited each other in the hospital and completed rehabilitation training together.

In an interview, Shiffrin and Kilde said they had discussed quitting skiing.

"There's always the stress that a fall can not only end your career but cause life-changing injuries," Shiffrin said.

"That's quite a backpack."

But both carry on.

Kilde wants to start downhill again next season, Shiffrin made her comeback in slalom in Are, Sweden, at the beginning of March.

She won.