Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abrasion on hip during crash on final run of World Cup giant slalom
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin faced a scary moment during her second run at a World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday. After crashing and doing a flip before sliding into the protective fencing, Shiffrin revealed that she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and felt something “stab” her during the fall. The 29-year-old skier had to be attended to by the ski patrol and was taken off the hill on a sled for evaluation at a clinic.
In a video posted on social media, Shiffrin reassured her fans that there wasn’t much cause for concern at that point, but she was unable to move due to her injuries. She expressed gratitude for the support and apologized for causing alarm, mentioning that all scans so far had come back clear. Despite this, Shiffrin made the decision to skip the slalom race scheduled for the following day, opting to cheer on her teammates from the sidelines.
Leading after the first run of the giant slalom and aiming for her 100th World Cup win, Shiffrin was in sight of the finish line when she lost control and crashed. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden went on to win the race with a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds, but her thoughts were with Shiffrin during the victory.
The crash was unexpected for Shiffrin, as she rarely records a “did not finish” in her races. With only 19 DNFs in 275 World Cup starts, the last time she did not finish in a GS race was back in January 2018. Shiffrin, known for her precision and skill on the slopes, has broken numerous records in her career, including surpassing Lindsey Vonn’s women’s record for World Cup victories and Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most wins.
Despite facing a few injuries throughout her career, including knee issues that required rehab but not surgery, Shiffrin has continued to dominate in the sport. With five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, and multiple world championships to her name, Shiffrin’s resilience and determination have been evident on and off the slopes.
As fans eagerly await her return to competition, Shiffrin’s signature event, the slalom, will take place without her participation. Additionally, the upcoming World Cup stop in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, has been canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions. Despite these challenges, Shiffrin remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of skiing, and her fans will undoubtedly continue to support her as she recovers from her recent fall.
