Mikaela Shiffrin Makes Comeback: 10th Place Finish in World Cup After Recovery from Injury

Even when Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t winning, she continues to inspire. Just 61 days after a serious crash that left her with a deep wound, she made a strong comeback at a slalom race in Courchevel, France. Despite finishing 10th, her performance showed incredible resilience.

After her first run, she was in fifth place but slipped a bit in the second, finishing 2.04 seconds behind the winner, Zrinka Ljutic from Croatia. Shiffrin admitted, “It felt challenging. The top women are skiing amazing. I’m just happy to be back competing.”

The crash that sidelined her happened on November 30 during a giant slalom in Killington, Vermont. She suffered a 7-centimeter puncture wound, which made it hard for her to even sit up initially. The fact that she was able to compete again is a testament to her determination.

After crossing the finish line, she smiled at the fans and even formed a heart shape with her hands. Shiffrin reflected on how important this race was for her recovery. “It’s a good step to see where I stack up with the top skiers. I need to improve my skiing, especially with the world championships coming up,” she said.

She returned to the slopes just in time to prepare for those championships in Saalbach, Austria, where the competition begins on February 4. Shiffrin plans to participate in both the giant slalom and slalom, set for February 13 and 15.

There’s also a chance she may join a combined team event, pairing with another skier, which adds an exciting twist to her comeback. “It would be amazing to race with any of my teammates in the Team Combined if I’m able to,” she expressed eagerly.

Shiffrin holds the record for the most World Cup wins, soon approaching a remarkable 100 victories—an achievement few could hope to match. However, right now, she’s focused on recovery and competing again after an injury that could have ended her season.

Just eight weeks ago, Shiffrin was struggling to sit up. Now, she’s back in the top 10. “I’m catching up to the world’s quickest skiers. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m excited to be here and ready to compete,” she said with optimism.

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