‘Better than I was’: Stenmark hails Shiffrin as she nears his World Cup record

• US skier ready to pass Swede's record in coming weeks
• Stenmark says American is better all-round skier

To Ingemar Stenmark, the focus on Mikaela Shiffrin as she approaches his record of 86 World Cup skiing victories is beside the point. The 66-year-old Swede believes the American is already on another level.

She's much better than I was. You cannot compare," Stenmark told the Associated Press. She has everything. She has good physical strength, she has a good technique, strong head. I think it's the combination of everything makes her so good. And I'm also impressed that she can ski good both in slalom and in super-G and downhill also.