Disappointed Mikaela Shiffrin Admits ?Growing Pains? Amid Fellow Skier?s Abrupt Disqualification at Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2023/24

The 2023-24 edition of the Alpine Skiing World Cup officially commenced on 28th October in Austria Soil. The global stage was set to have exciting and thrilling achievements made by athletes. However, in the middle of the event, one mishap took place. The unexpected disqualification of Norway’s professional skier came in as a shocker.?

The 38-year-old skiing champ, Ragnhild Mowinckel left sports enthusiasts in aghast with her name suddenly pulled out of the roster. The authorities were left with no other option except, disqualifying. Upon hearing the news, legendary Mikaela Shiffrin in a poignant moment added words of disappointment and support for the athlete. Mowinckels’ disqualification has left the skiing community in disbelief.?

Mikaela Shiffrin’s impactful words on Ragnhild Mowinckel being out of the roaster

Mowinckel is a two-time Olympic silver medalist from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She had finished the first leg of the giant slalom in sixth place. However, in a sudden turn of events, her skis failed the mandatory post-run test by FIS officials and failure made her out of the competition. Following this news, On 29th October, American Skiing Queen added a new post on her Instagram handle.

The post is dedicated to multiple entities, even her boyfriend talking about day one. Further, what grabbed fans’ attention was the support Shiffrin added. The caption reads, ?SZN 23/24 has officially begun! We?re all incredibly bummed for @ragmow?s DQ?it looks like there will be some very real ?growing pains? (to say the least) implementing the new Fluoro rules and I really feel so sorry that she was the first of us to deal with this problem already today.?

The post in a short span has got pretty good engagement. More than 39k likes and tons of supportive comments from worldwide. Additionally, the harsh decision left Mowinckel in tears and shock. And at the end, Lara Gut-Behrami emerged victorious in the race, with Mikaela Shiffrin securing the sixth position. Above all, one question looms large, what was the main reason behind her disqualification?

Why was Norway’s rising skier disqualified?

For decades, ski technicians have employed fluorinated wax in Alpine and cross-country skiing, enhancing speed by repelling moisture and dirt. However, a recent rule prohibits its use in pre-race ski preparation this season, following concerns about its potential health and environmental impacts.

READ MORE: ?Keep Moving Forward?: Hours Before Disheartening Run Mikaela Shiffrin Spills Her Golden Mantra at Audi FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup 2023/24

The ban led to Ragnhild Mowinckel’s disqualification as her skis showed elevated fluoride levels. Expressing concern, Mowinckel emphasized, “We must find out what happened. We are not trying to cheat, because that is the worst thing for me?

The shock resonated when Peter Gerdol, the women’s race director of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, stated, ?This was the only ski that showed quite a high value, way more than the minimum threshold, so the jury had no other option than to disqualify the athlete?.

The incident underscores the ongoing debate on the impact of fluorinated wax on health and the environment, prompting a closer examination of its use in competitive skiing. And in this, Shiffrin Support even from a competition point of view is breaking the internet.?