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Mikaela Shiffrin has announced she will not defend her giant slalom title at the Alpine World Championships, citing post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from her brutal crash in November. The American ski legend, who holds a record 99 World Cup wins, suffered a deep puncture wound in her fall at Killington, Vermont, on November 30, causing severe trauma to her oblique muscles.
“I’m mentally blocked in being able to get to the next level of pace and speed and putting power into the turns,” Shiffrin said in an audio message to the Associated Press. “And that kind of mental, psychological PTSD-esque struggle is more than I anticipated.”
The injury was dangerously close to being catastrophic—just a millimeter away from puncturing her abdominal wall and colon. “Two years ago, I was at my top level I’ve ever skied in GS,” Shiffrin reflected. “To be here now and not even be able to start, that’s pretty heartbreaking.”
Shiffrin Will Still Race at Worlds—But No GS
Despite stepping away from GS, Shiffrin isn’t done competing. She plans to race slalom—her strongest event—on Saturday and will also take on the new team combined event on Tuesday, pairing with freshly crowned downhill world champion Breezy Johnson.
The team combined event features one skier racing downhill and another racing slalom, with times added together for final rankings. The U.S. squad also includes Lauren Macuga and Paula Moltzan, Lindsey Vonn and AJ Hurt, and Jacqueline Wiles and Katie Hensien.
Vonn had pushed for a “dream team” pairing with Shiffrin, uniting the two most successful female World Cup skiers in history. However, U.S. coaches chose teams based on season-best results. Vonn initially expressed disappointment online but later emphasized her commitment to supporting the team.
Shiffrin and Johnson’s Longstanding Bond
Shiffrin and Johnson go way back, having raced together since they were 11. “We were at Whistler Cup and Topolino together. We’ve been roommates, competitors, friends… It will be so, so cool to bring this full circle,” Shiffrin said.
Johnson, who recently returned from a 14-month ban for missing three anti-doping "whereabouts" violations, has inspired Shiffrin with her resilience. “She knows the mental challenges of this sport better than anyone,” Shiffrin said. “She has fought tooth and nail to get here, and now she is World Champion… her journey and grit and determination have inspired the heck out of me.”
Shiffrin hopes to return to GS later this month in Sestriere, Italy, where two GS races and a slalom are scheduled. Sitting at 99 World Cup wins, she needs just one more to reach the historic 100-win mark.
For now, stepping back from GS is about giving herself “just a little bit more time to get things a little bit more sorted.” While this setback is tough, Shiffrin’s story is far from over.