Mikaela Shiffrin on the verge of breaking Ingemar Stenmark’s record for alpine skiing World Cup wins

It’s a matter of if, rather then when, Mikaela Shiffrin will become the most successful alpine skier of all-time as she returns to World Cup action this week.

For 34 years, Stenmark’s 86 wins has been targeted by the likes of Vonn and Marcel Hirscher, but neither of them were able to surpass it.

Shiffrin will break it, though, and many think the American will reach 100 World Cup wins.

When will Shiffrin break Stenmark’s World Cup record?

Three speed races take place this week, with two super-G events on Friday and Sunday, plus a downhill in the middle.

Shiffrin hasn’t raced a full speed programme this season, choosing instead to focus on the technical events, although she did win the super-G in St Moritz.

She was also runner-up in the World Championships super-G, missing out on gold to Italy’s Marta Bassino by 0.11 seconds.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Shiffrin didn’t win this week, after all, you can’t win everything – even when you might be considered the GOAT.

Are, Sweden could be the history-making weekend

So this brings us on to next weekend and the World Cup races in Are, Sweden where there will be a giant slalom and slalom.

Shiffrin has already wrapped up the slalom crystal globe with two races to spare after finishing in the top two in all but one of the races this season.

The 27-year-old is also set to win the giant slalom globe, having won five of the last six events, and she will almost certainly triumph in the overall World Cup standings for a fifth time in her sensational career.

Given her form in the technical disciplines, Are on March 10-11 is likely to be when Shiffrin equals and breaks Stenmark’s record.

If not then, the World Cup Finals from March 15-19 in Soldeu will give Shiffrin plenty of opportunities to create history.

Remaining women’s World Cup races

How many World Cup wins will Shiffrin have at the end of her career?

It all depends on how long Shiffrin wants to race for and whether she can stay injury-free.

At the moment, she has been very open about her enjoyment for the sport, perhaps more than ever.

At the next Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezz, Shiffrin will be 30 years old, so it’s possible she has another Olympic cycle in her after that.

Alpine skiers can race competitively into their late 30s, so in theory, we could be seeing another decade of Shiffrin. Now that would be quite something.

Staying at the top of any sport is so tough and there will be a decline. However, Shiffrin has proved this season with her 11 wins so far that she is skiing superbly well, and with such confidence too.

“The only person that can beat Mikaela is Mikaela,” Vonn told Eurosport. “There is clearly no other competition and it’s really a matter of her staying motivated and staying healthy.

“For me, staying healthy was always my biggest struggle, it was never a lack of motivation. I think Mikaela has been very smart and tactical in how she approaches every race.

“I have no doubt she can go well, well beyond 86 – 100 is very, very possible.”

History beckons for not just one of the greatest skiers of all time, but one of the best sportspeople this century.

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