Mikaela Shiffrin, the American alpine skiing star, recently addressed her fans ahead of the World Cup Finals. After recovering from a knee injury sustained in January during the World Cup downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Shiffrin has been cautious about her return to competition. She announced that she would only compete in the slalom event at the World Cup Finals in Saalbach, Austria, opting out of the giant slalom to prioritize her recovery.
In her message, Shiffrin expressed gratitude for the support and birthday wishes she received, stating:
“Hey, I just wanna say thank you all for the birthday wishes. I really appreciate it and I had a nice day. I had a productive GS [Giant Slalom] session actually but we have just run out of time to go through the right progression to be ready to race GS at the World Cup Finals on Sunday. So we’re taking GS off the schedule. I’m gonna focus on Slalom and am really excited for one final race of the season. I’m looking forward to pushing out the gate one more time and then get ready to prep for next year.”
Fans responded positively to her decision, emphasizing that her well-being is paramount and encouraging her to prioritize upcoming events like the Olympics. One fan commented, “You owe us nothing, Mikaela. Save it for the Olympics.”
Shiffrin’s focus on the slalom event at the World Cup Finals demonstrates her commitment to a measured and strategic return to peak performance, ensuring she maintains her health and competitive edge for future competitions.
