The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup has been full of twists, and unfortunately, not all of them are the good kind. Injuries have been throwing major wrenches into dreams, and one of the most gut-wrenching moments came when American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin was forced to hit pause on her journey to history. The 99-time World Cup winner was gunning for her 100th victory in Vermont on November 30 when fate stepped in.

Here’s the rundown: The two-time Olympic gold medalist took a nasty tumble on the slopes, flipping and slamming into the gates, leaving her with a puncture wound to the abdomen and some serious muscle damage. Ouch. But don’t worry; Shiffrin’s recovery is on track, and there’s still hope she could make history at the Audi FIS Alpine Skiing Women’s World Cup Kranjska Gora 2025, one of the biggest events in the sport. With that in mind—and the health of all U.S. athletes competing in Slovenia from January 2-5 at stake—the U.S. Ski Team has called in a big gun: one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the game.

Enter Dr. Blake Clifton, the orthopedic superstar from Gunnison Valley Health Hospital. The U.S. Ski Team is pinning its hopes on Dr. Clifton to help Mikaela Shiffrin get back to her race-ready best—and fast. Why the rush? Well, if Miki is able to compete in Slovenia and snag that elusive 100th World Cup victory, she’ll make history as the first alpine skier to ever hit the century mark. Not exactly a record that happens every day, right? So, bringing Dr. Clifton onto the U.S. Ski Team at this crucial juncture is a move that couldn’t be more timely. But why so?

Well, for those not in the know, Dr. Clifton is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in both pediatric and adult sports medicine and is renowned for the recovery of world-class athletes. But his expertise? Minimally invasive and open surgeries to repair and reconstruct ligaments, cartilage, and bones across all the major joints. He’s all about getting athletes back on their feet, and right now, fans are all hoping he’ll get Miki from “in recovery” to “fully recovered.” So what did the doc have to say about this massive opportunity?

“Working with the U.S. Ski Team is both a privilege and a responsibility,” Dr. Blake Clifton said, clearly ready to step up for the showdown! And he’s not just in it for the thrill of the big leagues. He’s passionate about taking that top-tier experience back home. “The opportunity to care for athletes at this level challenges me to stay on the cutting edge of orthopedic and sports medicine. These experiences allow me to bring advanced techniques and knowledge back to the Gunnison Valley, where I can provide the same high-quality care to our local athletes and community members,” he added. Critical care for all—now that’s some next-level service!

He will travel with the team to Slovenia and is prepared to be on his toes as the athletes train, prepare, and compete. But while Dr. Clifton will be on call as the team’s physician in Slovenia, let’s hope his job stays boring. As he put it, “I am there as their team physician to help with anything if something happens. If an athlete goes down, I’m called down the slope. Hopefully, it’s a boring job and nobody gets hurt,” he said. Well, here’s to keeping our fingers crossed and wishing for a smooth ride! With this ambition, it’s not just Mikaela Shiffrin—Dr. Clifton’s healing hands have been helping millions of fans as well.

Not just Mikaela Shiffrin’s health but her history-making ambition is in the hands of Dr. Clifton

American skiing fans can breathe a little easier knowing he’s got Mikaela Shiffrin’s back and they hope Dr. Clifton in Slovenia, it’s a boring job for him, as what happened on 30th November was heartbreaking. Not just Mikaela’s dream but her dreams of millions of fans broke down. The 29-year-old started strong and was ahead of all her competitors in her second run in the giant slalom in Killington, Vermont. She was so close to writing history with her 100th win when she got injured. This left fans heartbroken and, more than that, concerned. Olympic Champion quickly gave a hopeful update to her fans on social media.

“Not really too much cause for concern at this point; I just can’t move. I have a pretty good abrasion.” But the reality was a lot more serious than that. From a puncture wound and severe muscle trauma to her right oblique. Things took a turn when, on December 12th, she had to undergo additional surgery to clean out the wound.

Mikaela remained determined but uncertain about returning to competitive skiing. Fans flooded her post with heartwarming messages of support, hoping for her quick recovery. And honestly, who wouldn’t?

She has always delivered more than what was ever thought of! Before Mikaela, three women skiers had achieved three-digit victories, but all of them had done it in different disciplines. So if Mikaela clinches her 100th win in Kranjska Gora, she will become the first skier—male or female—to achieve this milestone in Alpine skiing. No pressure, right?

Now there is a glimmer of hope. On January 1st, the superstar posted a video, hinting that she’d be gently returning to the snow “within a week.” So now, Dr. Clifton isn’t just tasked with healing Mikaela, but he’s also taking on the responsibility of healing the hearts of her millions of fans.