Ingemar Stenmark says Mikaela Shiffrin will reach 100 Alpine Skiing World Cup wins - ‘She deserves to break my record’

ByNigel Chiu

Updated 24/01/2023 at 16:35 GMT

Legendary skier Ingemar Stenmark has reacted to Mikaela Shiffrin’s historic 83 Alpine Skiing World Cup win, which saw her statistically become the outright greatest female skier of all-time. Just three wins separate Shiffrin from breaking Stenmark’s record of 86 which is most by any skier ever. Stream the 2022-23 Alpine Skiing World Cup live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

Ingemar Stenmark believes Mikaela Shiffrin “deserves” to break his record of 86 Alpine Skiing World Cup victories.

Shiffrin won her 83rd World Cup race on Tuesday, which saw her surpass Lindsey Vonn’s female record and she is now just three wins behind the legendary Stenmark.

There are three races this week, live and exclusive on discovery+ and Eurosport, before the World Championships in France from February 6-18.

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It means the American is likely to break the record in the final part of the World Cup season in March.

“Shiffrin is such a great skier with a fantastic technique and really deserves to break my record,” Stenmark said in an email seen by the Wall Street Journal. “I will be happy for her when she does.”

He added: “She will be the first to reach 100 World Cup victories.”

'Stressful, peaceful, nervous, excited!' - Shiffrin on range of emotions after record win

Shiffrin struggled to find the right words when speaking to Eurosport following her win in Kronplatz.

Her rivals have called her an “inspiration” and believe she has taken the sport to new heights over the last decade, since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old.

• ‘No words to explain all the feelings’ – Shiffrin on record-breaking 83rd World Cup victory
• ‘An inspiration’ and ‘incredible’ – Shiffrin’s rivals salute her historic victory

During that time she raced alongside Vonn, who was expected to beat Stenmark’s record before injury curtailed her career, and the former ski racer praised Shiffrin for her achievement.

“To win 82 World Cups is an incredible achievement, one that only two people in the world have ever experienced before her,” said Vonn.

“She will no doubt go far beyond 82…raising the bar for the next generation of American skiers.”

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Stream the 2022-23 Alpine Skiing World Cup live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

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