The Slovakian was the fastest skier on both runs at the Finnish venue, ultimately beating Shiffrin by 0.31sec.

Vlhová clocked 52.15 on run one and 54.04 on run two, having held an advantage of 0.11 over Shiffrin at the interval.

This is Vlhová's fourth career win in Levi and she was therefore rewarded with a fourth reindeer, which the 26-year-old vowed to name "Michal" after her boyfriend.

Shiffrin, who has won 45 slalom World Cup legs - one shy of Swedish icon Ingemar Stenmark's all-time single-discipline record of 46 giant slalom wins - had to settle for second, and will rue a slight slip towards the end of her second run which may have opened the door for Vlhová.

The American and Vlhová were a class above the rest today, with runner-up Shiffrin finishing 0.53 ahead of Lena Dürr in third place.

Germany's Dürr, 30, had never before made a World Cup podium.

Andreja Slokar, the Slovenian who recorded a maiden World Cup win a week ago at Lech-Zürs, finished fourth to underline that that result was no fluke.

Swede Anna Swenn Larsson, who tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Levi last season, disrupting her campaign, completed the top five.

Another slalom contest is scheduled tomorrow, giving Shiffrin another shot at equalling Stenmark's record.

Vlhová, the reigning overall World Cup champion, is now third in this season's standings, behind Slokar and leader Shiffrin.