Aicher before ball showdown against Shiffrin

A historic skiing coup awaits: from Germany only Rosi Mittermaier (1976), twice Katja Seizinger (1996/1998) and most recently Maria Riesch in 2011 have triumphed in the overall rankings. But none of them were as young and inexperienced as Aicher when they won. “The fact that I can stand here and say that I’m in the fight is huge for me,” Aicher recently said on ORF and recalled: “A year ago I was nowhere in comparison. I’m very proud that that’s the case.”

Head coach impressed: “Seize the opportunity”

The bosses and coaches of the German Ski Association (DSV) recognized Aicher’s potential as early as 2020. At that time, they brought the native Swede in and took her with them to the World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo as a teenager who had not competed in the World Cup. There she promptly celebrated bronze in the team event – since then things have been going uphill for the daughter of a Swede and a German.

“That’s really impressive,” praises head coach Andreas Puelacher. The experienced coach has seen for years the feeling for skiing and the willingness to learn that Aicher has. And it was also the plan for her to be able to compete for the overall ranking – after all, she is the only one in the World Cup who competes in all four disciplines.

Skiing and arithmetic: How do you catch up to 140 points?

Even Puelacher hadn’t dared to dream of a Shiffrin duel for the big ball this season. Aicher had already had an excellent season with two Olympic silver medals as well as three victories and six further podium places in the World Cup. “Everything that comes now is a nice addition,” Puelacher told the German Press Agency. “But of course expectations are rising. Now we want to get the ball. When you have a chance like that, you want to take it.”

There is a lot of anticipation ahead of the World Cup final in Lillehammer. Before the downhill run on the Kvitfjell slope on Saturday and the Super-G on Sunday, Aicher is 140 points behind Shiffrin. The American is foregoing the downhill run – so Aicher would ideally have to win in order to get within 40 points of her opponent.

She knows how it works: Aicher won her first World Cup race in 2025 just on the descent from Kvitfjell. By the way, she can also win the discipline ranking.

Aicher wants to ignore the ball fight

Then comes the Super-G, where the German is also one of the contenders for victory. Slalom and giant slalom take place in Hafjell on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shiffrin is the favorite again there – but Aicher was able to keep the pressure up in the slalom in Are with second place behind the American. “It felt like I had to race for my life and yet I only got 20 points more,” Shiffrin said with a laugh after the race.

At the finish line in Sweden, Aicher bowed slightly to the winner and made a hand gesture as if she were taking her hat off to the 31-year-old. “It actually doesn’t matter how it turns out,” the DSV athlete announced. “I want to focus on the races, have fun and not think about bullets or what-if scenarios.”