Returning From Injury, Mikaela Shiffrin Is Rebuilt Once More

The glow from a laptop screen illuminates the greatest ski racer of all time near the end of another historic World Cup season. Historic, this time, in two ways: for her continued domino-toppling of all records in sight—and for another injury that in all likelihood will cost her any chance at winning another World Championship this season, as she has in four of the last five years.

Mikaela Shiffrin is in Norway, working her way back. Again. She’s not considering her long-term legacy. It’s still far too soon. She’s focused instead on immediate impacts: on the next generation; on her sport, its popularity, its place in wider pantheons of what humans pay attention to and pay to watch; and, now more than ever, what it demands from its top athletes.

Shiffrin will return this weekend in Åre, Sweden, where she won her first race, set the all-time wins record, sustained her first injury and where she returned to competition after the death of her father.

Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports