US teen Shiffrin eyes yet another slalom record

Associated Press

Lienz, Austria — American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin has a chance to end her magnificent year by setting yet another record in Sunday’s final race of 2013.

At 18 years, 291 days, Shiffrin can become the youngest female skier to win five World Cup slaloms in one calendar year. The record is held by retired Croatian standout Janica Kostelic, who was 67 days older when she captured five slalom victories in 2000.

Shiffrin, who has been dominating the slalom circuit this year by winning both the world title and the World Cup discipline title, says setting records “is definitely part of my goals.”

Coming off a third-place finish in Saturday’s giant slalom, Shiffrin says “it’s a little bit harder to be able to focus on both (disciplines).”