Aiming for an equal world cup title record, Mikaela Shifferin is determined as ever, asking herself, “Why should I lose motivation?”
Mikaela Shiffrin is eager to “fight again” this season to match Annemarie Moser-Proell’s record of six overall World Cup titles. Shiffrin, who holds the record for the most World Cup victories, remains as determined as ever despite seeking to regain her form. “Why should I lose motivation?” Shiffrin questioned.
She is preparing for what could be a historic season, aiming to tie Moser-Proell’s record, set during the 1970s when the Austrian dominated women’s World Cup Alpine skiing. Last season, Shiffrin surpassed Lindsey Vonn’s record of 82 World Cup wins in the women’s category and later broke the record for the most World Cup wins of any Alpine skier by achieving her 87th victory, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark.
Having won her fifth overall World Cup title, Shiffrin now targets a sixth, equaling Moser-Proell’s achievement. Reflecting on her first encounter with Moser-Proell, Shiffrin recalled, “At the time, I wasn’t close to threatening any of her records and titles. She said something like, ‘You just go for it and you’re going to pass me.’ It was striking that her mind was already there when no one else’s was. It was a cool experience.”
Regarding her motivation, Shiffrin explained, “I wouldn’t say anything has changed. It’s a funny place to be in. I didn’t set out to reset the record, and when it happened last year, people wondered if I would lose motivation. But why would I lose motivation after achieving something I never aimed to accomplish, compared to a fifth overall globe, which I was targeting? That just makes me want to fight again this year and compete for the overall globe because that has always been one of my biggest goals. That motivation resets every year, and that’s where my head is at.”
Shiffrin, named skier of the year by the federation of ski journalists on Friday, has experienced changes since last season. Unexpectedly, she parted ways with coach Mike Day after seven years and partnered with Norwegian Karin Harjo.
This season, Shiffrin plans to participate in additional events, including the downhill and super-G, due to the absence of World Championship or Olympic competition this year.