American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has revealed that a devastating crash in late 2024 left her seriously doubting whether she would return to competitive racing, as she prepares for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics next month.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist, now 30, suffered a deep abdominal puncture wound and severe muscle trauma during a giant slalom race at Killington, Vermont, on November 30, 2024. Leading after the first run and chasing what would have been her milestone 100th World Cup victory, Shiffrin lost control near the finish, tumbling into the safety netting and requiring immediate medical attention on the slope.
The injury—a five-centimeter-deep puncture that came perilously close to vital organs—sidelined her for months and raised concerns about long-term damage to her giant slalom (GS) career due to the World Cup points system.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Shiffrin admitted the physical and mental recovery was grueling. “I don’t know that I have it in me to work all the way back from that place again,” she confessed, reflecting on the risk of losing her protected starting position in GS events.
She explained the challenges of the ranking system: Injuries allow points to be “frozen,” but upon return, racers must quickly accumulate new points to maintain priority bib numbers. After a previous knee injury in January 2024 kept her out of GS for part of that season, the Killington crash pushed her dangerously close to dropping out of the top 30—a major competitive disadvantage.
Despite the setbacks, Shiffrin made a remarkable comeback, securing her historic 100th World Cup win in a slalom at Sestriere, Italy, on February 23, 2025. She has since added several more victories, bringing her total to 106, including a dominant start to the 2025-26 season with multiple slalom triumphs.
Shiffrin, who has earned five overall World Cup titles, three Olympic medals (two gold, one silver), and multiple world championships, now turns her focus to the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, set for February 6-22. She aims to add to her legacy while continuing to rebuild confidence in giant slalom.
Her resilience underscores why many consider her the greatest alpine skier of all time, as she overcomes one of the most challenging periods in her illustrious career.
