Teenager Mikaela Shiffrin bags slalom gold medal

Schladming, Austria (4E Sports) – A new superstar for the United States has emerged as teenager Mikaela Shiffrin captured the gold medal in the slalom event of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Friday.

The 17-year-old Shiffrin came from behind to grab the title in the final weekend of the event, becoming the third youngest woman to win the slalom world championship.

Third after the first round, Shiffrin erased a .18 lead by Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter with her aggressive second run to win the gold.

“This is for everyone who’s believed in my dream and for those believing in their own,” said Shiffrin, who has three wins in seven slalom races on the World Cup tour this season.

Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser took home the silver while Hansdotter settled for the bronze.

Shiffrin’s gold medal was the fourth for the United States in the event. Earlier, Ted Ligety won in super G, super combined and giant slalom while Julia Mancuso won a bronze in giant slalom.

“Not bad for a teenager! Congrats,” Mancuso tweeted.

At 17 years, 340 days old, Shiffrin also became the eighth youngest ladies’ world champion ever and youngest since 1985, when fellow American Diann Roffe-Steinrotter won the giant slalom.

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