Marlies Schild made history, and she might also have retaken the crown as world’s best slalom skier from American Mikaela Shiffrin.
Schild came back from sixth place after the first of two runs in Lienz, Austria, to win her 35th career World Cup slalom race on Sunday. That broke the Austrian’s tie with Swiss legend Vreni Schneider for the most ever.
Shiffrin took second after leading the first run. Schild was .47 of a second faster than the field in the second run and beat Shiffrin’s two-run total by .41. Shiffrin was 10th fastest in the second run. German Maria Hoefl-Riesch was third overall.
“I am happy with a podium,” Shiffrin said, according to The Associated Press, adding “it’s a bit disappointing” to lose her first-run lead.
The women’s Alpine skiing World Cup continues with a slalom in Bormio, Italy, on Jan. 5.
Lindsey Vonn does not race slaloms. The earliest she could compete next is a Jan. 11 downhill in Altenmarkt, Austria, but her status going forward is unknown after she skied out of a downhill in Val d’Isere, France, on Dec. 21.
Schild, 32, won her second straight World Cup slalom in her comeback from tearing right knee ligaments on Dec. 20, 2012.
“It’s hard to believe but now for sure the record is mine,” Schild said, according to Reuters. “I must admit I felt relieved after [tying Schneider’s record in] Courchevel. I needed to break the jinx. It was making me nervous in the end. Everybody was talking about the record.
“I even noticed in training that there was a before and after Courchevel. I’m much more relaxed now.”
Shiffrin went on to win the World Championship and World Cup title in her absence last season.
Schild won Olympic silver in 2010, World Championships gold in 2011 and four of six World Cup titles from 2007 through 2012.
How close are Schild and Shiffrin now?
Shiffrin leads the World Cup slalom standings with 202 points after three races. Schild is in second place with 200 points.
“For me a girl like Shiffrin is a great motivation,” Schild said, according to Reuters. “I must keep up with the younger skiers and I’m aware that time is not on my side.”
Lienz Slalom
1. Marlies Schild (AUT) 1:55.63
2. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) 1:56.04
3. Maria Hoefl-Riesch (GER) 1:56.26
4. Marie-Michele Gagnon (CAN) 1:56.64
5. Nina Loeseth (NOR) 1:56.87
6. Frida Hansdotter (SWE) 1:57.06
7. Chiara Costazza (ITA) 1:57.11
8. Christina Geiger (GER) 1:57.27
9. Wendy Holdener (SUI) 1:57.35
10. Anne-Sophie Barthet (FRA) 1:57.76
16. Resi Stiegler (USA) 1:58.70