Killington (United States) (AFP) – Mikaela Shiffrin’s bid for a milestone 100th alpine World Cup victory was on hold after the US superstar crashed out of the Killington giant slalom won by Sweden’s Sara Hector on Saturday. Shiffrin, already the owner of the most World Cup victories in history, was poised to claim a once unimaginable century after topping the first-run times. She looked on course for the win when she crashed heavily in the second leg, and Sweden’s Olympic gold medallist Hector emerged with the victory, completing the race in a total of 1min 53.08sec.
Shiffrin’s mistake came when she rounded a turn, causing her to lose balance and slide through a gate. She lost one ski and careened into the catch-fencing. Medical personnel took her from the course on a sled, during which she offered a wave to fans on her way. The extent of any possible injuries she might have suffered was not immediately known. “Mikaela took the sled down and is currently being evaluated,” USA Ski & Snowboard said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. “More info to come, but take solace in the fact that she asked about her splits.”
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At 29, Shiffrin already has 13 more World Cup wins than the most successful male skier, Ingemar Stenmark, and 17 more than the second woman, compatriot Lindsey Vonn. Needing three wins to hit 100 to start the season, she bagged her 98th and 99th career titles with back-to-back slalom wins in Levi, Finland, and Gurgl, Austria. That gave her a chance to complete her century in front of home fans in Killington, not far from where she attended Burke Mountain Academy as a youngster.
Shiffrin, who has won six slaloms at Killington but never a giant slalom, was greeted by ecstatic cheers as she crossed the finish line of the first leg atop the times. She was 17-hundredths of a second ahead of Hector after the second sector of her second run. However, her day ended not in celebration but as the 21st “Did Not Finish” in her 274 career starts. Vonn, who has just announced plans to come out of retirement, posted on social media: “Hope @MikaelaShiffrin is OK.”
Hector was delighted with her win while expressing sympathy for Shiffrin. “I’m very happy, after going through a difficult period,” she said. “Obviously, I’m very sad for Mikaela who was skiing so well. I saw her fall. My heart goes out to her,” she added. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic finished second, 54-hundredths of a second behind Hector, and Switzerland’s Camille Rast was third, 1.05 seconds back. The women are scheduled to race a slalom on Sunday.
© 2024 AFP
