A fortnight after the Killington World Cup accident, Mikaela Shiffrin is finally on the mend, but let’s be real—things were looking pretty rough there for a bit. Last week, she underwent an unexpected surgery, throwing her FIS Ski World Cup season into limbo. Fans? Worried sick. But leave it to Mikaela to keep everyone updated. She posted a video post-surgery to assure everyone she was alive and kicking (well, metaphorically). And now, there’s another update, and thankfully, it’s giving fans some much-needed hope.

On December 19, Mikaela Shiffrin uploaded a clip on her Instagram handle, claiming it to be an “Appreciation post.” In the clip, she thanked the medical team that looked after her last week. Furthermore, in the caption, she wrote, “Basic movements are starting to get easier and more fluid, and in general the soreness is improving a bit which is just wonderful (esp for my ability to get in and out of bed)🥴😁.”Getting out of bed without wincing in pain? That’s the kind of victory we’re cheering for right now.

Rewind to a week ago, and the vibe was way more somber. Shiffrin looked pale and bedridden, clearly still processing the trauma of surgery and a season suddenly derailed. On December 12, she shared a clip from her hospital bed, giving fans an update on her condition. Turns out, her recovery hit a major snag when fluid wasn’t draining properly, leaving her feeling seriously unwell. That led to an unexpected trip to the hospital last Thursday, where she underwent surgery to clear the fluid and repair a torn muscle near her colon.

Just three days later, she was back on Instagram—not in the hospital this time, but at her home in Edwards, Colorado, looking…well, understandably wiped out. In an interview with Ski Racing, she admitted, “We were trying to avoid surgery because it meant opening up the area more, which causes a bit more damage.” That raised a lot of questions. Did the surgery set her back more than expected? Did she lose something crucial in the process?

Last week, Mikaela Shiffrin’s update left the ski racing community on edge. With fans struggling to pin down a comeback date, her words didn’t exactly ease the tension: “I think if all things had gone perfectly and all the drainage just came out, we were pretty sure the season would be possible. It just depends on how I improve over the next weeks and months. There’s not a lot of precedent for this injury in our sport.”

But now, things are looking brighter. According to Mikaela, her rapid improvement is thanks to the thorough help of NexGen Hyperbaric. In her latest Instagram post, she shared a video of her treatment process using their advanced apparatus. The therapy, known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, has already proven effective for other ski racers, like Nina O’Brien. Now, Mikaela is seeing the benefits too, and the positive signs are undeniable.

Throughout the session, Shiffrin showed no signs of pain or discomfort. Instead, her trademark smile stole the show every time she went under the apparatus. It clearly made her day—and it might just be the first clue that she’ll be back on the slopes soon. While Mikaela’s recovery picks up speed, someone seems ready to announce her return to the Alpine skiing world.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s predecessor is counting her days to show up on the slope 

Mikaela Shiffrin has never seemed to call herself a perfect successor to Lindsey Vonn. That may express her humbleness. But in the coming days, she might find her senior as her competitor in the downhill. Yes, the age, injuries, and everything has failed to demotivate the 40-year-old fabled ski racer. She is meanwhile ready to fill the vacancy in Team USA, competing in the FIS Ski World Cup 2024. The timing also couldn’t be better. Why? 

With Mikaela Shiffrin sidelined two more members of the American ski racing squad have also found themselves away because of injuries. Vonn, on the other hand, has the needed points and permission to enter the FIS Ski World Cup 2024. So? Next week, Lindsey Vonn is scheduled to take the baton in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Wouldn’t that be something spectacular? Vonn is already feeling the vibe, and she is yearning to enter the event.

Brimming with confidence, she shared, “I haven’t really missed anything. I feel like I’m right where I left off and I’m actually healthier now than I was for the last few years of my career.” For ski racing fans, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for. Lindsey Vonn, healthier and hungrier than ever, is gearing up for a spectacular return.