Valérie Grenier Secures Giant Slalom Victory in Lillehammer, Shiffrin Ties Overall World Cup Record
Canada’s Valérie Grenier concluded the World Cup alpine skiing season with a triumphant win in the giant slalom on Wednesday in Lillehammer, Norway. Simultaneously, American Mikaela Shiffrin achieved a record-tying sixth women’s overall World Cup skiing title, fending off a strong challenge from Germany’s Emma Aicher.
Grenier, representing St-Isidore, Ontario, posted a combined time of two minutes 16.79 seconds, securing the gold medal. Norway’s Mina Fuerst Holtmann (2:17.22) claimed silver, although Austria’s Julia Scheib (2:17.36) rounded out the podium with a bronze medal.
“I really enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun. It’s a great way to conclude the season, and it definitely makes me more hungry for next season,” Grenier said. “I want to retain improving.”
Grenier led after the first run and maintained her lead in the second, marking the third World Cup victory of her career. She also secured a bronze medal in a giant slalom event in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, in December. Her previous World Cup victories occurred at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, in January 2023 and January 2024.
Britt Richardson of Canmore, Alberta, finished 20th out of 27 competitors with a time of 2:19.47, 2.68 seconds behind Grenier.
Shiffrin Secures Sixth Overall Title
Mikaela Shiffrin secured her sixth overall World Cup title by finishing 11th in the giant slalom with a time of 2:18.81. She needed to finish within the top 15 to clinch the title, achieving this before her rival, Emma Aicher, even began her second run.
Aicher, who needed to win the race and hope Shiffrin finished 16th or worse, placed 12th with a time of 2:18.83.
“It’s quite emotional,” Shiffrin said. “This thing sums up a whole season of work and fighting with the whole team and I have to say to Emma that her skiing has been just outstanding and today it was just so cool to watch her, especially on the first run.
“I consider the outcome of this day is that she can do this. And I think that’s the coolest thing about ski racing, that anything is possible,” Shiffrin added.
Shiffrin matched Austrian downhill great Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s record of six overall titles, achieved in the 1970s. Shiffrin previously won three consecutive titles from 2017-2019, and back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.
Lindsey Vonn holds the third position on the women’s list with four overall titles.
Shiffrin’s Dominant Season
This season, Shiffrin demonstrated exceptional skill, winning nine of the ten World Cup slaloms and securing her third Olympic gold medal in the slalom at the Milano Cortina Games. She boasts a record 110 victories across all disciplines, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 wins from the 1970s and ’80s.
Aicher, aiming for her first overall title, secured two silver medals in downhill and team combined at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. She achieved three World Cup race wins this season – one downhill and two super-Gs.
Julia Scheib had already clinched the discipline title prior to the final giant slalom event, while Olympic giant slalom champion Federica Brignone concluded her season early.
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