Mikaela Shiffrin gave another update on her injury break and at the same time criticized the busy schedule in the Alpine Ski World Cup. She is “doing better every day,” wrote the five-time overall World Cup winner on social media. However, she will miss the upcoming race weekend in Soldeu. “My knee can’t take the strain yet,” she explained. In Andorra there will be a giant slalom and a slalom for women on Saturday and Sunday.
Shiffrin fell heavily on the first of two descents from Cortina d’Ampezzo two weeks ago. Several ligaments were overstretched. The 95-time World Cup winner from Colorado also wrote that she was still in pain from a bone bruise that she suffered at the start of the season. The Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami recently reduced the gap in the overall standings to 95 points in Shiffrin’s absence.
In addition to Shiffrin, there have been numerous other high-profile failures this winter. Among others, the season has already ended for her partner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway, the former overall World Cup winners Alexis Pinturault from France and Petra Vlhova from Slovakia as well as the Swiss Olympic champion Corinne Suter. Most recently, the Italian downhill World Cup winner of the last three winters, Sofia Goggia, was seriously injured during training.
The number of injuries was “devastating,” said Shiffrin. “It’s really too much,” said the American, referring to the high level of stress – on the one hand due to the many races, but also due to the appointments and obligations in between.
“I absolutely believe that fatigue plays a role in the many injuries at this point in the season – including mine,” wrote the American on X. Both the tight racing calendar and the evening commitments would therefore have to be reconsidered.
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Top stars in particular who are successful in several disciplines would hardly have any time for relaxation. “In addition to the tight calendar, there are media appointments and award ceremonies. Then there is a full evening program – and that during the only 60 or 90 minutes of the weekend in which we could eat or relax,” says the 28-year-old.
