12 March 2023

adidas pays tribute to the record setting victory of Mikaela Shiffrin with a video

Two days before her 28th birthday, American alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin (born 13 March 1995) broke the record of the most World Cup wins of Swedish ski racer Ingemar Stenmark, who won his 86th World Cup 34 years ago in 1989 in Aspen, USA. On occasion of Shiffrin's record breaking World Cup slalom race on 11 March in Åre, Sweden, the athlete's long-term partner adidas celebrated her 87th World Cup victory with a video starting with scenes showing her at home playing the piano and singing Billy Joel's 'Vienna', milestones of her career from early youth on and scenes in action on the slope in pieces from the adidas Terrex collection. In the beginning of the video, Shiffrin speaks about her view on the record win: "I don't really think of it as breaking a record. I just reset one...".

Playing the song 'Vienna', which is according to Billy Joel about "slow down, look around you and have some gratitude for the good things in your life" (source, YouTube video starting at 3:57), is meaningful and reflects Shiffrin's attitude of life. Speaking after her victory, Mikaela Shiffrin says in the media release: "It will take me a while to wrap my head around today's win and what it means for the sport of alpine ski racing, and sport in general. Getting here has been far from easy; so much has gone in behind the scenes from so many people to make this possible. I owe my family, and my team, more than I can put into words. As much as I value this moment - it has never been my mission to break records, win titles or achieve 'GOAT' status. I am driven by enjoying the process of improving in this sport that I love so much, and sharing my perspective with the world, hoping to inspire people along the way. That's what gets me out of bed and onto the slopes every morning."