Mikaela Shiffrin Becomes Youngest Slalom Gold Medalist - East Idaho News
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Mikaela Shiffrin Becomes Youngest Slalom Gold Medalist

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Getty 022114 MikaelaShiffrin?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1393015591395ALEXANDER KLEIN/AFP/Getty Images(SOCHI, Russia) — American Mikaela Shiffrin has glided her way into Olympics history by becoming the youngest person ever to win gold in slalom and the fifth-youngest gold medalist in alpine skiing on Friday.

The 18-year-old Colorado native beat a host of skiing giants, including Austrians Marlies Schild, 32, and Kathrin Zettel, 27, to take top place on the podium.

Shiffrin reportedly battled a head cold during her race Friday morning at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, which didn’t stop her from dominating her first run and going on to finish 0.53 seconds faster than Schild, who is the former world slalom champion.

The fresh-faced teen won her first world cup title at just 16, going on to win gold in the World Championship in slalom and the World Cup Slalom in her sophomore year. In her second full season, Shiffrin nabbed four World Cup slalom golds out of six podiums.

On top of the newest achievement, Shiffrin proudly boasts a series of titles, including being the youngest slalom World Champion in American history and first non-European to win four World Cup slalom races in any one season.

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