Paula Moltzan hailed Mikaela Shiffrin as her “idol” and the benchmark she aspires to reach in alpine skiing. The American skiers shared the podium in the recent slalom event in Flachau, where the latter extended her World Cup win to 107.
The winningest alpine skier in history missed the top rank in the Kranjska Gora slalom race, giving up the win to Swiss skier Camille Rast.
Paula Moltzan Hails Mikaela Shiffrin for Setting a Benchmark
While Shiffrin has been unmatchable in slalom, Moltzan has not been far behind, making her mark in the technical disciplines since the beginning of the ongoing 2025–26 season. The latter finished second in the giant slalom season opener in Sölden, Austria, and continued her momentum in Flachau, sharing the podium with her fellow U.S. skier and the most decorated athlete of all time.
On Shiffrin’s podcast, the 31-year-old named her younger counterpart as the benchmark she hopes to reach in her career. She also called her an “idol” she has always looked up to, someone she can watch compete in real time, rather than merely drawing inspiration from history.
“I will forever in my career be striving to be as good as you. And that is a really tough place to be as an athlete, but also a really unique place to be, because at least I have a role model that I can see actively in front of me. It’s not like someone from 100 years ago. It’s like I’m living it in real time,” she said.
Shiffrin’s recent win in Flachau extended her World Cup wins to 107 and placed her atop the slalom standings, making her a heavy favorite for the World Cup overall title.
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The 30-year-old saw her win streak end in Kranjska Gora but bounced back in Flachau. After the race, she opened up about how it had been more of a mental challenge for her, as the audience had pinned their hopes on her, with even young kids cheering her on. She also shouted to the electric crowd, noting that the footprints on the slope’s sides said it all.
In the 2024–25 season, Shiffrin was in the midst of a strong campaign when a giant slalom crash left her with an abdominal puncture that required immediate surgery, followed by the removal of an old hematoma. She also won the World Championships title in team combined, competing alongside teammate Breezy Johnson. She now boasts 167 World Cup podiums, out of which 96 are slalom.
