The highly anticipated women’s giant slalom event at the FIS World Cup in Killington, Vermont, took an unexpected turn when Mikaela Shiffrin, the reigning double Olympic champion, crashed out during her second run. The incident occurred halfway down the course, with Shiffrin clipping a gate and sliding into the netting. She was subsequently taken off the slope by sled and is currently undergoing evaluation.
A Bittersweet Victory for Sara Hector
In the aftermath of Shiffrin’s crash, Sara Hector of Sweden seized the opportunity to claim the top spot on the podium. Hector’s winning combined time of 1:53.08 was enough to edge out Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, who finished second with a time of 1:53.62. Switzerland’s Camille Rast rounded out the top three, finishing just over a second behind Hector.
Shiffrin’s Historic Pursuit of 100 World Cup Victories
Mikaela Shiffrin’s quest for her 100th World Cup victory will have to wait, as the 29-year-old American skier’s crash has left her future participation in the World Cup uncertain. Shiffrin, who has already cemented her status as the most successful alpine skier in history, had been on the cusp of reaching the milestone, boasting a 0.32-second advantage over Hector following the first run.
A Concerned Skiing Community
The news of Shiffrin’s crash has sent shockwaves throughout the skiing community, with fans, athletes, and pundits alike expressing concern for the American skier’s well-being. Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who recently came out of retirement, took to social media to express her support for Shiffrin, writing, “Hope @MikaelaShiffrin is OK 🙏🙏.”
An Update on Shiffrin’s Condition
According to U.S. Ski and Snowboard, Shiffrin was taken off the slope by sled and is currently undergoing evaluation. Her publicist, Megan Harrod, has since provided an update on Shiffrin’s condition, stating that the skier is “alert and being evaluated.” Harrod also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and love from fans and well-wishers.
The FIS World Cup Schedule: Changes Ahead
In a separate development, the FIS has announced that next week’s races in Tremblant, Canada, have been cancelled due to a lack of snow. This change to the World Cup schedule will undoubtedly have implications for the athletes and teams competing in the FIS World Cup.
