The FIS Skiing World Cup is just around the corner, and skiing fans are as excited as ever! After last season’s epic finish in March, we’re in for six thrilling months of high-speed action, all leading up to that coveted crystal globe. The season kicks off in Sölden, Austria, on October 26—mark your calendars! And it’s extra exciting with some big names making comebacks after injuries like Mikaela Shiffrin, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Petra Vlhova, Alexis Pinturault, and Corinne Suter.

Speaking of comebacks, Nina O’Brien’s story is wild. She had a killer first run at the 2022 Olympics but crashed hard in the second, breaking multiple bones in her leg. She fractured her tibia, fibula, and talus in her left leg, went through four surgeries, and made a comeback for the next season in autumn 2022. After a few surgeries, she bounced back in 2023, even winning a world championship event. But after more shin issues and another surgery, she was ready for the 2023–24 season.

Just when things were looking up, a disaster struck during a slalom run with just a week left. As she straddled a gate, it felt like her foot abruptly stopped while her body kept moving. “I just felt this deep pain low in my leg, in the boot, and my stomach dropped immediately,” she recalled. “I was just like, oh gosh, did I just break my leg again?” Sadly, she fractured her left tibia in the same spot as in 2022, just above her ankle. Doctors reassured her that the first break didn’t make her more prone to this one; it was just a fluke. But now comes the latest updates!

A return to the slopes might be in the works for Nina O’Brien, as she revealed in a chat with NBC Sports. The excitement is building as she nears her first Alpine skiing competition since breaking her left leg for the second time in under two years. She reflected on the journey back to her passion and expressed a deep sense of gratitude. “I miss being on the road with my team and being in the start gate and waking up to go ski racing every morning,” said the 26-year-old. “I feel very, very lucky to be able to do this.” It’s clear she’s ready to reclaim her spot on the snow.

Now this Colorado native is putting in the hard work, currently training in Belgium to get ready for the start of the World Cup season. From the thrill of the start gate to the crisp morning slopes, she’s eager to soak it all in once again, embracing every bit of the journey back.

How did she recover from all those injuries? O’Brien found her second comeback easier than the first. In February 2022, she flew from Beijing to Tokyo, then to Texas and Denver with an external fixator on her leg. Fast forward to September 2023, and she was traveling from Queenstown to Auckland, then San Francisco to Denver, with her leg in a cast, open at the top to manage swelling.

While prepping for another surgery that would end her season, she connected with Dartmouth admissions, who allowed her to enroll for the fall 2023 term just days later. With one quarter left to finish her economics degree, she returned to skiing in January, gradually ramping up her training. Now she happily says, “Feels great to be back.” Speaking of comebacks, this season it’s not just Nina O’Brien making waves with her return!

Skiing phenom returns to the snowy slopes!

Guess who’s back on the snowy stage? None other than the queen, Mikaela Shiffrin! The skiing sensation had a wild ride last season, including a high-speed crash joining the list of injured athletes, which even included her boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Mikaela Shiffrin had a dramatic incident during her FIS Alpine Ski World Cup downhill run in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26, requiring a helicopter lift after crashing into the safety net.

After landing awkwardly from a jump, she slid off course and bounced off the net, remaining down for several minutes. Ski patrollers helped her sit up and stand, but she couldn’t put weight on her left leg. A medical helicopter was then called to airlift her for treatment. That tumble took her out of the action for a bit, but not for long.

She made a roaring comeback in Are, Switzerland, clinching the women’s skiing slalom victory with a solid 1.24-second lead. This triumph marked her incredible 96th World Cup win and handed her the eighth World Cup slalom title. Now, Shiffrin is prepared for her next big chapter, getting ready after managing that MCL injury. She’s out to chase the magic number—the big 100 World Cup wins!

With her eyes locked on breaking new records, she’s more determined than ever, as she is now off for the last part of training in Europe. The energy is electric as she preps for Sölden, the season’s first race, which is creeping up fast, less than a month away. And Mikaela’s all set to take on those powdery peaks once again, making history.