Industry News
Mikaela Shiffrin made history last Sunday, February 23, becoming the first Alpine skier to win 100 World Cup races with her Slalom victory in Sestriere, Italy. While she is the first Alpine athlete to reach this milestone, other skiers have also surpassed 100 World Cup victories, and some active competitors are on the verge of joining the exclusive “Club 100.”
These legends of the slopes, tracks, and trails have redefined excellence in their disciplines, pushing the boundaries of human performance while captivating fans worldwide. However, some receive less recognition due to their sports being less televised. Nonetheless, their achievements are no less remarkable.
- Related: USA Celebrates Double Podium as Mikaela Shiffrin Wins 100th Career World Cup in Sestriere, Italy
Amélie Wenger-Reymond, Switzerland — Telemark Skiing — 164 World Cup Victories
In the specialized discipline of telemark skiing, Switzerland’s Amélie Wenger-Reymond reigns supreme. With an unprecedented 164 World Cup victories, she has completely rewritten the record books of her sport. Telemark, a hybrid of alpine and Nordic skiing, demands exceptional technical skill, endurance, and adaptability. Wenger-Reymond’s dominance spans more than 15 years, a testament to her unmatched expertise and commitment. She has won 76 Sprint, 45 Classic, 26 Parallel Sprint, and 17 Giant Slalom events in her career spanning from 2007 to 2023. Despite the niche appeal of telemark skiing, the Swiss skier’s achievements have brought telemark skiing greater visibility and respect on the global stage.
Johannes Thingnes Bø, Norway — Biathlon — 127 World Cup Victories
Norwegian biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø has brought unprecedented speed and precision to his sport. With 127 World Cup victories to his name, Bø’s dominance lies in his seamless combination of lightning-fast skiing and steady shooting under pressure. His reign has not only redefined what’s possible in biathlon but also drawn increased global attention to a sport that thrives on its mix of physical and mental demands. The 30-year-old has also won eight Olympic medals, five of which were Gold medals.
Marit Bjørgen, Norway — Cross Country Skiing — 114 World Cup Victories
In cross-country skiing, Norway’s Marit Bjørgen stands as an unrivaled icon. With 114 individual World Cup victories, Bjørgen dominated the sport for nearly two decades before retiring in 2018. Known for her physical endurance and tactical acumen, Bjørgen was equally skilled in sprint and distance events, a combination that helped her win five overall World Cup titles and secure 15 Olympic medals, eight of which were Gold meals. She has won 62 Distance, 40 Sprint, and 12 Ski Tour events between 1999 and 2018.
Conny Kissling, Switzerland — Moguls, Aerials & Acro/Ski Ballet — 106 World Cup Victories
Swiss freestyle skier Conny Kissling carved her place in history with 106 World Cup wins during the 1980s and 1990s, setting a record in Freestyle that remains untouched. Competing in Moguls, Aerials, and Acro/Ski Ballet, Kissling’s versatility made her a household name in freestyle skiing’s formative years. Kissling’s achievements came during a time when freestyle was gaining recognition on the global stage. At the time, Freestyle athletes were expected to master multiple disciplines and a separate “Combined” category of Moguls, Aerials and Acro/Ski Ballet existed. Kissling was instrumental in legitimizing freestyle skiing as a competitive sport and paving the way for future generations. From 1981 to 1992, she won 66 Combined, 34 Acroski, four Moguls, and two Aerials World Cups.
Active Ski Athletes Poised to Join the “Club 100”
On the watchlist of athletes that could join Shiffrin in this small, exclusive club is Canada’s Mikaël Kingsbury, who is the strongest mogul skier in the world. He currently has 96 World Cup victories to his name and is still active, so is poised to join Shiffrin in the Club 100 soon. Another active winter sport athlete with good odds is Norway’s Johannes Klaebo. The 28-year-old cross-country skier has 95 individual World Cup victories to his name (as well as seven team victories).
Athletes who reach the milestone of 100 World Cup wins transcend their sports and inspire awe, but they also reflect the growing competitiveness of elite-level winter sports. Moreover, it also underscores a significant shift in the lifespan of athletic careers, particularly in winter sports. In past decades, elite athletes like Vreni Schneider or Annemarie Moser-Pröll often retired in their mid-20s, citing physical strain and a lack of long-term career sustainability. Moser-Pröll, for instance, retired at just 25, despite holding the record for the most women’s Alpine skiing World Cup wins until recently. In contrast, today’s stars often sustain peak performance into their late 20s, 30s, or even beyond, shattering the conventions of previous generations. Lindsey Vonn staged her comeback to competitive skiing this season at age 40, a feat previously thought impossible.
