In a dazzling display of precision and bravery, Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić secured second place in Sunday’s slalom at Sestriere, Italy, propelling her to the top of the World Cup slalom standings.
The 20-year-old from Zagreb finished a mere 0.61 seconds behind American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, who clinched her 100th World Cup victory.
This result marks Ljutić’s ninth podium finish in her World Cup career and her third second-place finish of the season.
She now leads the slalom rankings with 489 points, surpassing some of the sport’s biggest names.
Beyond her slalom triumphs in Semmering, Kranjska Gora, and Courchevel, this latest achievement also sees her rise to third overall in the World Cup standings.
Ljutić’s relentless progress signals a future where the slalom crown could soon be hers.