Are, Sweden (AFP) – American skier Mikaela Shiffrin returned from a six-week damage absence to win the ladies’s slalom in Are on Sunday, clinching her eighth occasion title.
Publication date: 2024/10/03 – 16:45
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Although Shiffrin, who turns 29 subsequent week, was not within the operating for the general victory, her 96th World Cup win was some comfort as she accomplished an outstanding second run to complete 1.24 seconds away from 20-year-old Croatian Zlinka Ljutic. Ta. third place went to Switzerland’s Michel Gysin.
“I’m so joyful to be racing once more as we speak,” an emotional Shiffrin mentioned after her win.
“I felt that stress once more and all of the feelings that include it. I’m so happy with myself and the entire workforce.”
“The second run was my greatest ski.”
Germany’s Lena Duer was the one lady who might mathematically overtake herself within the slalom standings. Second place Petra Vlyova has already had her season lower quick resulting from damage, however she might solely make it to fourth place.
With one race remaining, Shiffrin leads the occasion standings with 730 factors, 225 factors forward of Vlhova, who continues to be 13 factors behind Duell.
Shiffrin has been sidelined with knee and ankle accidents since a critical crash in late January on the Olimpia delle Tofane course within the Italian ski resort of Cortina, website of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
However, the American posted a clean opening run of 49.94 seconds, simply 0.02 seconds behind Gysin.
Shiffrin, who was the final to run within the second run, pulled out all of the stops, belying the truth that she was operating her first “intense race” since her crash final week.
“On the primary run, I felt like I used to be pushing arduous however could not sustain with the tempo. This (second) run was no completely different,” mentioned essentially the most profitable skier in World Cup historical past.
No total title
On Friday, Shiffrin, who received Olympic gold medals in slalom in 2014 and big slalom 4 years later, mentioned she is not going to compete in downhill or super-G races earlier than the top of the season and isn’t trying to win one other sixth all-around title. admitted that it was unimaginable.
She is 345 factors behind chief Lara Gut-Behrami, who didn’t run a slalom on Sunday.
“It’s unbelievable to compete together with her (Gut Behrami), to play towards her, to observe her,” Shiffrin mentioned in a video press convention Friday.
“I really like watching Lara ski. Unfortunately, I’ve to compete together with her. I really feel like Lara has actually pushed the extent of snowboarding this yr.”
Mikaela Shiffrin holds the file for 96 World Cup wins © Pontus LUNDAHL / TT News Agency/AFP
Shiffrin’s sturdy comeback after a protracted break with a record-tying 96th win is a testomony to her talent and dedication.
After the accident in Italy, some questioned her capability to return, however she had no doubts.
“I by no means thought that this is able to be the top of my profession,” she mentioned on Friday, recalling the agony of watching her boyfriend Alexander Ahmot Kilde slam into the web at 120km/h in Wengen. additionally revealed.
The Norwegian suffered extreme cuts and nerve harm to his proper calf and two torn ligaments in his dislocated proper shoulder with extreme lacerations and was taken by helicopter to hospital.
“It was a life-or-death state of affairs for about eight hours instantly after the crash,” she mentioned.
© 2024 AFP