Mikaela Shiffrin’s monumental 100th World Cup victory was an achievement for the ages, one that many heralded as the ultimate benchmark of skiing excellence. It marked a significant moment in an illustrious career that has seen Shiffrin break record after record, dominating the sport and leaving a legacy that few athletes can rival. Yet, as we stand on the precipice of her next triumphs, it’s worth questioning whether the true pinnacle of her career lies not in the celebrated 100th win, but rather in an unexpected memory from a different moment of her career.
While the world celebrated her century of World Cup wins, a remarkable feat in any sport, Shiffrin herself has pointed to a less publicized victory as the most emotionally rewarding. This unexpected memory—her triumph at the 2019 World Championships in Åre, Sweden—has consistently been identified by the skier herself as a defining moment in her career. It wasn’t the numbers or the trophies that made it special; it was the raw, personal growth she felt in overcoming adversity. For many, this raises an interesting question: Why does a race with fewer accolades hold more value than a history-making 100th win?
One could argue that the obsession with numbers in professional sports can overshadow more intangible achievements. The 100th win, for example, was celebrated as a milestone, a symbolic reminder of Shiffrin’s dominance on the slopes. Yet, in her own words, she didn’t view it as the moment that defined her career. Instead, it was the difficult periods—the setbacks, the injuries, and the emotional struggles—that shaped her path to greatness.
In 2019, Shiffrin found herself at a crossroads, struggling with the weight of expectations after a disastrous performance at the PyeongChang Olympics. The following World Championships in Sweden presented an opportunity to prove to herself, rather than the world, that she could rebound from the crushing disappointment. That victory wasn’t marked by fanfare or extravagant media coverage—an anti-climactic contrast to the overwhelming celebrations that accompanied her 100th win. But to Shiffrin, it was a victory born of resilience, one that laid the groundwork for the sustained success that would follow.
This distinction brings into question the nature of sports milestones themselves. Are we too fixated on numerical achievements like the 100th win? Or should we instead focus on the intangible moments of overcoming hardship, the ones that aren’t as quantifiable but are perhaps more significant in shaping an athlete’s career? As Shiffrin’s career continues, it seems she is more interested in emotional fulfillment than accumulating trophies.
The controversy around her 100th win is rooted in this very tension between public expectations and personal satisfaction. Fans and analysts alike lauded the feat as the pinnacle of Shiffrin’s career, but was it really? Is the journey toward that victory not as important, if not more, than the 100th win itself? If we can celebrate her accomplishments, shouldn’t we also be willing to embrace the complexity of what those accomplishments represent? Not every victory is as satisfying as it appears, and sometimes the greatest moments come not from what is achieved, but from how far one has come to get there.
Ultimately, Shiffrin’s “best” moment is a reflection of her unique perspective on success. While the world watches with bated breath for her next record, perhaps the true legacy she’s building is one that transcends wins, titles, and trophies. In recognizing the mental and emotional aspects of her journey, we are reminded that sport is not just about victory—it’s about the lessons learned along the way, the personal growth, and the quiet moments that define an athlete’s true success.
Perhaps the most controversial thought to leave us with is this: Mikaela Shiffrin’s career won’t be defined by her 100th win, but by the memories she treasures most—the moments that only she knows are her greatest victories, no matter how the public chooses to measure them.