Latest news with #WorldChampsGS
CNN
11-02-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Mikaela Shiffrin withdraws from skiing world championships event, citing ‘mental obstacles' following violent crash
Mikaela Shiffrin is still feeling the effects of a violent crash she experienced in Killington, Vermont, on November 30. But it's the mental recovery that's taking more time than the physical recuperation for the most decorated alpine skier in history. In a Monday statement posted on Instagram, Shiffrin said she was experiencing 'PTSD' that prompted her to withdraw from this week's giant slalom race at the FIS World Championships at Saalbach, Austria. Shiffrin is the defending world champion in the event. 'I've poured all of my energy into getting my giant slalom in shape to be prepared to start World Champs GS in Saalbach on Thursday,' Shiffrin wrote. 'The long-story-short is…I'm not there. Right now, I feel quite far away. I'm currently working through some mental obstacles in order to return to the GS start with the intensity required for racing.' The 29-year-old Colorado native suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen and severe muscle trauma when she crashed out in the giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup. 'Honestly, I really didn't anticipate experiencing so much of this kind of mental/PTSD struggle in GS from my injury in Killington,' Shiffrin said in her post. 'Like always, I tried diving into the challenge, hoping to get there by Worlds. I figured my passion and longing to compete would outweigh the mental barriers. Maybe that will be the case over time, but I'm not there yet. 'Coming to terms with how much fear I have doing an event that I loved so dearly only 2 months ago has been soul-crushing.' The winningest skier in FIS World Cup history returned to racing at the slalom event at Courchevel, France, on January 30, where she finished in 10th place. Shiffrin was seeking a record-extending 100th career World Cup win at the event. Shiffrin said her withdrawal from the World Championships giant slalom will allow her to ski in the women's team combined event in Saalbach with teammate Breezy Johnson. Shiffrin will ski the slalom half of the event while Johnson skis the downhill portion. The slalom event is considered safer as it is run at slower speeds than the giant slalom when skiers reach speeds around 50 miles per hour. 'I'm mentally blocked in being able to get to the next level of pace and speed and putting power into the turns,' Shiffrin said of her decision to pull out of the giant slalom in a statement to The Associated Press. The three-time Olympic medalist says she will continue to work her way back to the form that won her gold in the giant slalom in PyeongChang in 2018. 'One of my teammates – who knows this experience well – said that the only thing you can do is keep trying. So that's what I will do,' Shiffrin said. Shiffrin and Johnson will take to the slopes in the team combined competition Tuesday morning at Seelbach. Shiffrin will also compete in the women's slalom race on Saturday.
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
MIkaela Shiffrin cites PTSD from crash in withdrawing from giant slalom at worlds
Mikaela Shiffrin will not defend her title in the women's giant slalom at the World Alpine Skiing Championships due to the lingering effects of a crash she had in November. The American record-holder with 99 World Cup wins made the announcement Monday in an Instagram post, saying she's "working through some mental obstacles" after suffering a deep puncture wound to her abdomen during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont. "I've poured all of my energy into getting my giant slalom in shape to be prepared to start World Champs GS in Saalbach on Thursday. The long-story-short is…I'm not there. Right now, I feel quite far away," she wrote. Shiffrin, the most successful skier in modern world championships history, went on to explain the source of her struggles. "Honestly, I really didn't anticipate experiencing so much of this kind of mental/PTSD struggle in GS from my injury in Killington," she wrote. "Coming to terms with how much fear I have doing an event that I loved so dearly only 2 months ago has been soul-crushing." Shiffrin did say, however, that she would compete in the Team Combined at the worlds, which are being held in Saalbach, Austria. The official start list has not beeen posted, but Shiffrin said she would be paired with teammate Breezy Johnson, who on Saturday won gold in the women's downhill. The Team Combined is a new addition to the world championships, pairing skiiers in the slalom and downhill and adding their times together. Shiffrin is the most successful skier in modern world championships history, winning seven gold medals and 14 total medals in 17 individual race starts dating back to 2013.
NBC Sports
10-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin world champs schedule update: in for team combined, out of giant slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin updated her race schedule for the World Alpine Skiing Championships this week, saying she will contest Tuesday's team combined (in addition to Saturday's slalom) and will miss Thursday's giant slalom. Shiffrin, working her way back from tearing oblique muscles in a Nov. 30 giant slalom crash, feels 'quite far away' from being able to race GS. 'I've poured all of my energy into getting my giant slalom in shape to be prepared to start World Champs GS in Saalbach on Thursday,' was posted on her social media. 'The long-story-short is…I'm not there. Right now, I feel quite far away. I'm currently working through some mental obstacles in order to return to the GS start with the intensity required for racing. 'Honestly, I really didn't anticipate experiencing so much of this kind of mental/PTSD struggle in GS from my injury in Killington. Like always, I tried diving into the challenge, hoping to get there by Worlds. I figured my passion and longing to compete would outweigh the mental barriers. Maybe that will be the case over time, but I'm not there yet. Coming to terms with how much fear I have doing an event that I loved so dearly only 2 months ago has been soul-crushing. ALPINE SKIING WORLDS: Results | Broadcast Schedule 'One of my teammates—who knows this experience well—said that the only thing you can do is keep trying. So that's what I will do.' Shiffrin originally hoped to race both Thursday's GS and Saturday's slalom at worlds. Under that plan, she would have missed Tuesday's team combined to prioritize GS training. 'Since we have now realized that the GS is not in the cards just yet, that re-opens up the opportunity for me to join my teammates in the Team Combined,' Shiffrin posted. In the combined, each nation can enter up to four teams of two skiers each — one for a downhill run and one for a slalom run — with the standings determined by the best combined time. The event is making its world championships debut this year and makes its Olympic debut next year, replacing the individual combined event. While the official start list has not been posted yet, Shiffrin said she will pair with newly crowned world downhill champion Breezy Johnson in the team combined. 'I'd feel lucky and grateful to partner with any of my incredible Speed teammates—and our coaches have now informed us that Breezy and I will paired together for the event,' she posted. 'After becoming World Champion in downhill Saturday, Breezy told me 'If you want to do the TC, I would be honored to pair with you. Not because of the medal, but because this sport is crazy fun, and it would be fun to bring it full circle after all these years.' What a wise woman. Breezy and I have been racing together since we were 11. We were at Whistler Cup and Topolino together. 'We've been roommates, competitors, friends. And she's right…it will be so so cool to bring this full circle. What a journey she has been on…she knows the mental challenges of this sport better than anyone. She has fought tooth and nail to get here, and now she is World Champion…her journey and grit and determination has inspired the heck out of me. I'm so honored to partner with her on our little Team Atomic (*USA) for my first start of Saalbach 2025.' Shiffrin is the most successful skier in modern world championships history — seven gold medals (tied for the most since World War II) and 14 total medals (most since World War II outright) in 17 individual race starts dating to 2013. 'It is really exciting to team up with someone who I have been racing with since I was a little kid,' Johnson posted on social media. Nick Zaccardi,
