Mikaela Shiffrin Wins First on Podium on Downhill

The 22 year-old American ski racer, Mikaela Shiffrin, placed on the podium for Downhill on December 1, 2017 during the FIS Alpine World Cup.

Set at Canada’s Lake Louise, Mikaela Shiffrin, racing for the US, competed for the third time in the World Cup Downhill.  Downhill is the fastest race, having less turns than the Super-G, Giant Slalom, and the Slalom. Shiffrin usually competes in the Slalom and Giant Slalom, containing 46 World Cup podium finishes.  Until then, her best finish in the Downhill was 13th. In this race, she placed third, 0.3 seconds behind the second place Austrian finisher Cornelia Huetter. On the second day, surprising herself as well as the crowd, Mikaela finished first place, as Downhill racers get two tries on the slope.

Unlike her teammate, Lindsey Vonn crashed dangerously on the course.  An 18-time champion at Lake Louise, Vonn placed out of the ton-ten on the second day of racing.  Lindsey Vonn has won 2 Olympic Medals and many winning titles at various other competitions.

Mikaela Shiffrins’ win was as surprising as Lindsey Vonn’s crash, and people are looking forward to see how these two will do in the upcoming Winter Olympics.