FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup: Mikaela Shiffrin marks return from injury by sealing slalom crystal globe in Are

Mikaela Shiffrin marked her return from injury with a dominant victory which secured the American an eighth slalom crystal globe. Shiffrin, racing for the first time since a ligament injury in January, finished more than a second clear of Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic, with Michelle Gisin in third to complete the podium. Shiffrin earned her 96th career World Cup victory in the process.

Mikaela Shiffrin marked her return from injury with a dominant victory in Are, Sweden which secured the American an eighth slalom crystal globe.

Shiffrin had not raced since damaging ligaments in her leg after a heavy fall at the end of January but was comfortably the best of the field.

The 28-year-old finished more than a second clear of Croatia's Zrinka Ljutic, with Michelle Gisin in third, to earn the American her 96th career World Cup victory and open up an unassailable lead at the top of the slalom standings.

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"I'm lucky to be able to race again this season, and I'm really soaking it in," Shiffrin said.

"My knee, it's holding up. It's doing good work for me. When I feel the knee, it doesn't distract me from skiing.

"It's a little bit overwhelming [to be back], even, because the last six weeks I've been spending most of my time around about three people.

‘Proud of myself’ - Shiffrin thrilled with winning return to action in Are slalom

"Coming back with a lot more people around, I'm trying to remember how to be social."

Lena Duerr, Shiffrin's closest challenger for the slalom title following a season-ending injury to Petra Vlhova, finished fourth in Are, meaning she can no longer catch the runaway leader.

Shiffrin's eighth slalom season title is the joint-most Alpine World Cup crystal globes in one discipline, a record shared by Lindsey Vonn (downhill) and Ingemar Stenmark (giant slalom and slalom).

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