Alpine skiing - Shiffrin ready to lead the new generation

First-placed Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. poses with a U.S. flag during the flower ceremony for the women's alpine skiing slalom event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre, February 21, 2014. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Reuters) - With an Olympic gold medal around her neck at the age of 18, American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is pure gold dust for a sport preparing to wave goodbye to a generation of greats.

Under the glare of the floodlights at Rosa Khutor on Friday, the teenager known on the circuit as the "Mozart of Skiing" produced a high-speed waltz through the gates to become the youngest ever Olympic slalom champion.