KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia — Swiss skier Camille Rast delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, snapping American star Mikaela Shiffrin's impressive six-race winning streak in World Cup slaloms by edging her out by just 0.14 seconds. Rast, the reigning slalom world champion, clocked the fastest times in both runs at the women's World Cup event here, securing her fourth career victory and third in the discipline. The narrow margin highlighted the intense rivalry between the two athletes, with only 45 days remaining until the women's slalom at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The race unfolded on a challenging course in this picturesque Slovenian resort, where conditions tested the precision and speed of the world's top slalom specialists. Rast carried a lead from the first run into the afternoon's second leg, holding off Shiffrin's aggressive pursuit to claim the win. Shiffrin, who had dominated the discipline with victories in the first five slaloms of the current season, finished a close second but expressed admiration for her rival's form.
"Her skiing is so strong, and it's been building, building, building," Shiffrin said after the race, according to reports from the event. "The last races she had some mistakes that cost time. And today, how I saw her ski the first run, ah, I had to go 120 percent in order to have a shot. So, it was a big, big, amazing day for her."
Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in slalom from the 2014 Sochi Games and holder of four world titles in the event, remains the discipline's all-time leader with 69 World Cup slalom wins and 106 overall victories—both records. Despite the loss, she celebrated her own effort, pumping her fist at the finish line before Rast's final run. "I had a really specific goal for my skiing for the second [run], a little bit technical thing, and I felt like I really accomplished that," Shiffrin added. "This was the hardest I could push. I pushed so hard, it was like a small mistake here and a small mistake there and I don't think that cost time. That was just how hard I was trying. I could feel these turns that I wanted to feel."
For Rast, the triumph marked a double weekend of success. Just one day earlier, on Saturday, she notched her first World Cup giant slalom victory on the same hill, a feat she dedicated to the victims of a tragic fire at a bar in Crans-Montana, near her hometown of Vétroz in Switzerland. The incident, which occurred recently, cast a shadow over the Swiss skiing community, and Rast's emotional response underscored the personal stakes behind her achievements.
"I gave everything I had this weekend. Double on the same weekend is quite amazing. I'm so happy," Rast said post-race. She credited her success to sustained energy and enjoyment of the competition. "It was a little bit a battle, but I had a lot of fun. And the slope, wow, was amazing. The preparation was top."
The duo's dominance was evident in the results, as they finished well ahead of the field. Rast's Swiss teammate Wendy Holdener took third place, trailing by a substantial 1.83 seconds—her first podium in nearly a year. Shiffrin's American teammate Paula Moltzan rounded out the top four, the only other skier to finish within two seconds of the winner. The gap highlighted the elite level at which Rast and Shiffrin are operating as they gear up for the Olympic showdown.
This victory builds on a growing rivalry that gained momentum last week in Austria. There, Rast led after the first run of the slalom, but Shiffrin mounted a comeback on a deteriorating course, recovering more than half a second to secure a narrow win. That performance set the stage for Sunday's rematch, where Rast reversed the outcome with flawless execution in both heats.
Other notable moments in the race included setbacks for emerging talents. Italian prodigy Lara Colturi, who races for Albania and has podiumed in four of the previous five slaloms this season, lost her balance and fell during the first run. The course was set by her father and coach, Alessandro Colturi, adding a layer of poignancy to the mishap. Meanwhile, Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic, the defending slalom World Cup champion, failed to finish for the fourth time in six races this season, continuing a string of inconsistencies.
The event in Kranjska Gora served as a key tune-up for the Olympic season, with the Milan Cortina Games looming in February 2026. Shiffrin's streak, which began with the final race of last season, had solidified her as the undisputed queen of slalom, but Rast's emergence as a consistent challenger injects excitement into the buildup. As the world champion, Rast enters the Olympics with momentum, having now proven she can beat Shiffrin on multiple occasions.
Looking ahead, the women's World Cup calendar features a night slalom on January 13 in Flachau, Austria—a venue where Rast won last year and Shiffrin has triumphed five times in the past. The final pre-Olympic slalom is set for January 25 in Czechia, providing another opportunity for the rivals to fine-tune their strategies. Next weekend, the tour shifts to downhill and super-G events in Zauchensee, Austria, offering a brief change of pace from the technical demands of slalom.
Notably, there were no men's World Cup races this weekend, allowing focus on the women's side amid a packed schedule. The absence of male competitors underscored the spotlight on Shiffrin and Rast, whose duel is drawing parallels to historic rivalries in alpine skiing.
As the season progresses, both athletes will aim to build on their strengths. Shiffrin's technical precision and mental resilience have carried her to unparalleled success, while Rast's building consistency and raw speed position her as a genuine threat. Their competition not only elevates the sport but also promises compelling narratives leading into the Olympics.
In the broader context of women's alpine skiing, this weekend's results reflect a field in transition. Veterans like Shiffrin continue to set the standard, but younger skiers such as Colturi and established challengers like Holdener are vying for spots on the Olympic podium. Rast's double win here could inspire a surge among Swiss athletes, who have long been powerhouses in the discipline.
With the Olympics just over a month away, the pressure mounts for all contenders. Shiffrin, who has medaled in slalom at every Olympics since 2014, will look to reclaim her edge, while Rast aims to carry her current form into the five-ring spotlight. Fans and pundits alike will watch closely as this rivalry unfolds on the world stage.