After a six-week injury layoff, Mikaela Shiffrin returned to the Alpine skiing World Cup in impressive fashion. Shiffrin, who had been sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in a downhill crash in Italy, showcased her talent by posting the fastest time in the opening run of the season's penultimate slalom event.
In her comeback race, the American star edged out her competitors, finishing ahead of Swiss runner-up Michelle Gisin by a mere 0.02 seconds and Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic by 0.11 seconds. Shiffrin expressed her gratitude for being able to race again this season and highlighted the resilience of her knee, which held up well during the competition.
Despite limited practice sessions leading up to the event, Shiffrin felt confident in her skiing abilities and emphasized her focus on pushing herself throughout the race. With her main rival, Petra Vlhova, out for the season due to injury, Shiffrin is poised to secure her record-equaling eighth World Cup slalom title.
Currently leading the standings by a significant margin, Shiffrin's closest competitor, Lena Duerr, faces an uphill battle to challenge her for the title. Duerr must win both the current race and the season-ending slalom at the World Cup finals and hope for Shiffrin to collect minimal points to have a chance at overtaking her in the standings.
If Shiffrin clinches the slalom title, it will mark her eighth crystal globe in the discipline, a remarkable achievement that places her among the elite skiers in the sport. While Shiffrin opted out of Saturday's giant slalom and will not compete in the speed events of the finals, she remains focused on securing the slalom title and continuing her successful comeback from injury.
Lara Gut-Behrami, the current overall leader in the standings, is on track to secure her second overall title, leaving Shiffrin without a chance to close the points gap in the remaining races. Despite the challenges, Shiffrin's return to competition has been met with enthusiasm and admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.
Shiffrin's resilience and determination have been on full display in her comeback, underscoring her status as one of the most accomplished skiers in the world. As she continues her pursuit of excellence on the slopes, Shiffrin's performance serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a testament to her unwavering commitment to the sport.
