Mikaela Shiffrin's Dramatic Crash at World Cup: Latest updates from Mikaela
American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin sent shockwaves through the skiing world as she was stretchered off the course following a dramatic crash at the annual Alpine Skiing FIS World Cup 2024/25.
The 29-year-old, already hailed as the most successful alpine skier in history, had her sights set on celebrating her 100th World Cup victory. However, her aspirations were shattered when she crashed out of the women's giant slalom during the Stifel Killington Cup in Killington, Vermont, on Saturday, November 30.
Shiffrin had initially taken a commanding 0.32-second lead during her first run on the slalom. Unfortunately, disaster struck during her second attempt as she collided with the security fence lining the slope. Subsequently, she was swiftly taken off the slope by sled, as reported by the official Olympics website, amidst polite applause from the concerned crowd.
Following the unsettling crash, updates on the condition of the two-time Olympic gold medalist were shared by U.S. Ski & Snowboard via X. The statement mentioned that Shiffrin's condition was under evaluation.
"Mikaela took the sled down and is currently being evaluated. More info to come, but take solace in the fact that she asked about her splits," US Ski and Snowboard stated via X.
Despite Shiffrin's unfortunate exit, Olympic champion Sara Hector from Sweden clinched the first-place title in the 2024/25 World Cup with a combined winning time of 1:53.08. Zrinka Ljutic from Croatia secured the second position, while Camille Rest from Switzerland claimed the third spot.
"It's so sad, of course, for Mikaela, a crash like that after she was skiing so well. It breaks my heart," expressed Hector during the broadcast following Shiffrin's mishap, as reported by ESPN.
Shiffrin had earlier praised the course and conditions, stating, "It's pretty straightforward and I think there may be some spots on the hill with a few stones that are kind of surfacing as people ski." She further added, "Some of the skiers coming down, they look fine, and then their ski just slips out. And the surface is actually really great so I don't think it's an issue of not enough grip so much as you hit a stone and you lose your edge."
If Shiffrin is uninjured, she will have another shot at securing her 100th win during the slalom event scheduled for Sunday, December 1. Earlier this year, she endured a knee injury due to a high-speed crash during the World Cup downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
I hope @MikaelaShiffrin is OK 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ay44WPhqYF
— Janko Privc Jr. (@JanKoprivcJr) November 30, 2024
Interestingly, Shiffrin had also faced the scare of a significant fall earlier this year, albeit not her own. In July, her fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who is also a professional skier, was hospitalized following a ski accident.
"Out of the many lessons I learn from you, one of the greatest is — Smile," Shiffrin shared via Instagram alongside a heartwarming photo of her and Kilde, 32, snuggled up in a hospital bed. She added, "Even through the s—t. ❤️🤍 I love you @akilde. Forward ❤️."
Later that evening, Shiffrin reassured fans with a video posted on X, confirming that she was okay and would recover from the crash. She expressed gratitude for the support she received and indicated her determination to bounce back.
Quick update. Thank you for your cheers and support. Wishing the best of luck to my teammates tomorrow!! I’ll be cheering from the sidelines on this one.🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/5siYwSFxMT
— Mikaela Shiffrin ⛷️ (@MikaelaShiffrin) November 30, 2024