Awaiting news from icy Haven’s winter paradise, the dose of American Christmas happiness hits a bummer! In the 58th year in its second act, the elite female alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin returns to Lapland for the 2023 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. As the two World Cup slalom races got underway, the first lap showed a saddened finish after a Slovak skier with a slalom specialty outclassed her expertise.

In a thrilling turn of events after placing sixth, another setback followed the injured Shiffrin. In a recent update, her ranking tanked to a rather unanticipated position once again. The slalom event was packed to the brim with powerful performances from each of the contenders.

Early moments of the Slalom event

The 2 time Olympic champion took to the slalom course early in the competition, hoping to improve on her already remarkable record of 53 career victories in the discipline. But in the opening round, it was Petra Vlhov?, Slovakian with 2022 Winter Olympics slalom gold, who took first place. Shiffrin finished behind German skier Lena Duerr in third place, reported FIS.

Before the competition, the social media-backed alpine skiing sensation?shared that she had been in a training collision that left her with “a bone bruise, but no other major damage.” However, she was deemed fit by the sports body and said, “I’m feeling quite good now, just in time for the weekend,” to wrap out her report. ‘It takes a tribe,’ they say. Similarly, Shiffrin thanked Regan Dewhirst, the U.S. Ski Team’s physical therapist, the medical personnel back home, and the friends made at several clinics in Finland for her speedy recovery.

Since ski crashes are common, Shiffrin also acknowledged that hers was not the worst nor the first and that it won’t be the last, recognizing the inherent hazards in the sport. Still, she said the experience was a powerful reminder of our dual nature of strength and fragility. Subsequently, Shiffrin made a thoughtful turn and even encouraged other athletes who were hurt. A similar sportsman spirit was exhibited by her during the opening giant slalom event.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s message post setback

Expected to lift the standard with 88 World Cup wins, Mikaela entered the Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24. Unfortunately, on each of her laps down the Rettenbach glacier, Shiffrin struggled to establish her flow. The day’s biggest winner was Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami, who won the giant slalom at the World Cup by just 0.02 seconds over Federica Brignone after the first run. Mikaela, on the other hand, finished sixth in the competition, having lost by 1.40 seconds.

Summing up the experience, Shiffrin said, “It’s an okay place to start; certainly better than 13th in giant slalom from last season.” She also talked about last year’s struggle to develop top form. “It’s a tough race, but it’s also a good one because you can really see what your weaknesses and strengths are,” she continued.

READ MORE ?Scary?: Recently Injured, Mikaela Shiffrin Pens Heartfelt Note Days Before Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2023/24

She concluded by praising the best female skiers of the day, saying, “I think there’s a lot for everybody to learn from the top women today because they skied just unbelievably.” While there is more to the day for the American alpine skiing queen, can she overpower after a more than respectable ranking advancement?

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