Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) in super-G action in Meribel, where she took the silver medal (Agence Zoom)

The simple answer to the headline question is, of course, yes. The slalom and giant slalom fields for the 2023 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are absolutely stacked with great champions, in-form stars and proven performers.

But you would still have to be brave to bet against the American.

Shiffrin, who is on the verge of becoming the all-time most successful World Cup skier, has lined up 17 times for technical races so far this season – and won 10 of them. The accolades for the four-time slalom world champion are endless and mostly driven by her often seeming invincibility in the technical events.

But her shock slip three gates from home in the slalom leg of the Alpine combined in Courchevel Meribel, not to mention her rough ride at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games (including three DNFs), will give her multiple rivals plenty of hope.

With the giant slalom starting at 09:45 local time on 16 February, and the slalom at 10:00 on 18 February, here’s a look at all those most likely to close out the biggest event of the year in style.

The Big Four

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA)

2023 World Championship form so far: AC: DSQ, SG: 2nd
2023 World Cup SL: 5 wins, 3x 2nd
2023 World Cup GS: 5 wins
World Championships: 2021 AC: 1st, GS: 2nd, SG & SL: 3rd; 2019 SG & SL: 1st, GS: 3rd; 2017 SL: 1st, GS: 2nd; 2015 SL: 1st; 2013 SL: 1st
Olympic Games: 2018 GS: 1st, AC: 2nd; 2014 SL: 1st
All eyes are always on the 27-year-old when she straps her skis on but the pressure will be particularly intense for Shiffrin when her favoured events begin. Given her remarkable form this season – not to mention throughout her career – anything other than double gold will be a shock. Giant slalom victory on Meribel’s Roc de Fer piste would complete the World-Olympic technical set.

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• Πηγή: https://www.fis-ski.com