Mikaela Shiffrin wins third consecutive World Cup slalom title

Mikaela Shiffrin clinched her third straight World Cup slalom title in style Saturday with a victory at the season-ending finals.

Shiffrin, the Olympic and two-time world slalom champion, beat her only remaining challenger Frida Hansdotter of Sweden by 0.05 seconds to win her sixth race of the season and fifth in slalom.

The 20-year-old American had a commanding 90-point lead over Hansdotter going into the race, but stayed true to her attacking style rather than skiing safely to get into the points.

“Frida has been pushing me hard all season, she’s been skiing so fast and I really had to give it my all in the second run to get the win today, said Shiffrin, who finished 110 points clear of her rival. “When I hit the flat section I had a good feeling, but knew I had to give it everything I had if I wanted to win and luckily it worked out.”

She raised the crystal globe aloft with her right as the crowd cheered.

Slovakia’s Veronika Velez Zuzulova placed third and Slovenia’s Tina Maze was fourth, picking up valuable points in her quest for the overall title.

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Norwegian racer Henrik Kristoffersen won the men’s giant slalom race at the season-ending World Cup finals in convincing style, while Marcel Hirscher took a step closer to clinching the overall title after placing fourth.

Kristoffersen led Germany’s Fritz Dopfer by 0.08 seconds after the first run and dominated the second to finish 0.79 seconds ahead of him and 0.97 clear of Frenchman Thomas Fanara, who was fourth in the morning.

The 26-year-old Hirscher, who was sixth after the first run, is contesting the World Cup title with Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud, who placed 11th.

Jansrud won the downhill and super-G titles this season, but has never made the podium in a slalom race, with a best finish of fourth place nearly 10 years ago.

Hirscher has already sealed the giant slalom title and is 60 points ahead of Jansrud overall.