Skiing Star Mikaela Shiffrin Suffers Disappointing Loss as She Must Watch 16th World Title Slip Away at World Cup

The majestic heights of the Austrian Alps fell quiet as the Saalbach throng saw one of the all-time greats miss out on adding another trophy to her illustrious career. While the exploits of the Swiss combination Camille Rast and Wendy Holdener helped their country win, Team USA fared poorly. Why? Mikaela Shiffrin’s anticipated comeback turned into a rainstorm.

While everyone expected Mikaela to smash records and win another world title, she could only achieve fifth place on the 15th. Camille (1:58:00), Wendy (1:58.46), Katharina Liensberger (1:59.32), and her US teammate Paula Moltzan (1:59.34) all finished faster than her. Despite her expertise in the Giant Slalom, the two-time Olympian had to swallow a harsh pill.

Despite a great start at number following the first run, she began giving time shortly after. While the Austrian Alps hoped to watch history in the making, they had to settle for a top-five result. But don’t forget that Shiffrin is still recovering from the nightmare injury that almost ruined her career back in November 2024.

This might have been the Olympian’s 16th global gold, after her 15th by winning the new women’s team combined event on Tuesday with downhill champion Breezy Johnson. The setback also rocked the supporters to their core because the American gold champion had never been knocked off the slalom podium since she skied for the first time at age 17 in 2013.

Mikaela, who is making a comeback after an injury, won four gold medals in a row from 2013 to 2019, silver in 2023, and bronze in 2021. She had been the queen of these events, and her failure must have devastated skiing fans. Though the Slalom winning run was finally broken after 7 years with this setback, the 29-year-old is pleased with the outcome.

“Today met my expectations,” she stated.



Mikaela is recovering from her Vermont injury and trying to figure out where she fits in. She goes on to remark, “It’s an odd place to be after surgery eight weeks ago. From resting in bed with a drainage tube six weeks ago to returning mid-season during the world championships, where everyone is talking about the medals. And all of the other athletes are battling and in good shape.” But Mikaela is not given up just yet. However, victory may prove difficult.

Mikaela’s Shiffrin is on the path to redemption.

Mikaela is suffering greatly as a result of her injuries. The multiple-time champion adds, “And I’m trying to figure out where I even stand in the sport.”However, the champion’s nightmares do not end there. Leaving GS, this defeat, and the excruciating pain—things are difficult. However, Olympian has maintained her ground twice and is gradually making a return.

Mikaela, on her way to her triumphant 100th World Cup victory, lay devastated on the snow she had learnt to ski on. The Colorado native made a mistake by putting too much weight on her inner ski, causing her to crash into the snow. Something penetrated her abdomen, creating a puncture hole. Following that, she underwent surgery and rehabilitation to regain her mobility.

Mikaela, ever the fighter, returned to snow on January 30th, finishing 10th in the Courchevel slalom race. Though the wound continues to haunt her, Mikaela is determined to improve herself and her skiing so that she can compete for the podium at the end of the season.

“I think there are some obvious challenges that I face to keep improving in my skiing and maybe to get to the point where I can be fighting for podiums for the end of the season,” she spoke with Eurosport.Mikaela’s 15th World Cup medal, which equals Christl Cranz’s record from the 1930s, demonstrates her tenacity and the fact that the 29-year-old still has plenty of gas in her tank.

However, the 16th global title is as certain as her 100th global Cup triumph. Fans are certain she will make a comeback. The question is: When?