Visibly dejected: Superstar Mikaela Shiffrin. © ANSA / Pontus Lundahl

Mikaela Shiffrin becomes a tragic figure

She is the best skier in history. But Mikaela Shiffrin is not having the easiest time at the moment. There was a bitter disappointment in Åre.

March 08, 2025

From: det

As a Federica Brignone celebrated an exhilarating victory in Åre on Saturday, Mikaela Shiffrin was long gone. The American was eliminated in the first run of the penultimate giant slalom of the season and experienced disappointment – ​​once again, one might say! Since her serious fall in the Killington giant slalom at the end of November and a long break, this discipline – in which Shiffrin has already won Olympic and World Championship gold – has been in turmoil.

The facts since her comeback are as follows: She did not compete in the World Championships, initially finished in 25th place in Sestriere, almost five seconds behind, and then did not qualify for the second run in the second race. And now Shiffrin has been eliminated in Åre after just a few seconds of skiing. The American expressed her disappointment with her head hanging low. This is not how we know the skiing giant, who has climbed onto the podium 100 times in her 43 giant slalom races.

Mikaela Shiffrin has been eliminated in Sweden. © ANSA / Pontus Lundahl

The problem is mainly in the mind. During the World Championships, Shiffrin wrote an emotional statement on social media about the giant slalom: "I'm working on overcoming mental hurdles in order to be able to compete with the intensity that is required for such races. To be honest, I didn't expect that I would have to struggle so hard mentally after my injury." Barriers that Shiffrin still hasn't overcome.

A season highlight without Shiffrin?

What's particularly bitter is that it looks as if the 29-year-old will not be allowed to compete in the giant slalom at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley (USA). In the current discipline rankings, the best female skier in history is only ranked 29th, and only the top 25 will compete in the finals. There is still a small loophole: Shiffrin would have to break the 500-point mark in the overall World Cup, then she would be allowed to compete in all races in Sun Valley. She currently has 377 points.

After the failure, Shiffrin was disappointed. © APA/afp / PONTUS LUNDAHL

So it's been a real rollercoaster season for Mikaela Shiffrin. After her fall in Killington, in which she sustained a serious abdominal injury, she had to undergo surgery and take a break for around two months. Then came the gold medal in the team combined at the World Championships, shortly after that her 100th World Cup victory, which she celebrated in the slalom. But now comes another disappointment in the giant slalom.