In a move that may come as a disappointment to fans and pundits alike, Mikaela Shiffrin has announced that she will not be participating in the team combined event at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria. Instead, the 99-time World Cup winner will focus on the giant slalom and slalom races, events in which she has consistently excelled throughout her illustrious career.
Shiffrin’s decision comes on the heels of her highly anticipated return to World Cup competition on January 30, where she placed 10th in the night slalom in Courchevel, France. The Edwards skier had been sidelined since November 30, when she suffered a puncture wound in her oblique muscle during a giant slalom crash in Killington, Vermont. The injury and subsequent surgery forced Shiffrin to take a break from competition, and she is still working her way back to full strength.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Shiffrin explained that she needs to prioritize her solo events, citing the challenges she is still facing in her recovery. “As exciting as it was to return to racing in Courchevel, my team and I are continuing to take it one step at a time as I work to get back to 100%,” Shiffrin wrote. “That is proving to be no small task — each day so far has come with a new set of challenges.”
Shiffrin’s decision to sit out the team combined event means that a potential pairing with Lindsey Vonn, the 82-time World Cup winner, will not come to fruition. Vonn, who has made a remarkable return to World Cup competition after a five-year hiatus, had floated the idea of teaming up with Shiffrin last month. However, Shiffrin’s focus on her solo events takes precedence, and she will instead cheer on her teammates in the team combined event.
The team combined event, which is slated for February 11, features a unique format in which two-person teams compete in a downhill and slalom event, with their aggregate times determining the winner. While Shiffrin will not be participating in this event, she will be competing in the giant slalom on February 13 and the slalom on February 15. As she continues to work her way back to full strength, Shiffrin remains a formidable force in the world of alpine skiing, and her fans will be eagerly watching her progress in the days and weeks to come.
