Mikaela Shiffrin sustained a deep puncture wound to her abdomen and 'severe muscle trauma' following her crash in a race on Saturday, but fortunately, she escaped serious bone, ligament, or organ damage. The five-time overall World Cup champion will be unable to participate in the Killington Cup slalom race on Sunday. The US Ski Team has not provided a specific timeline for her return to competition.
'Following her crash in yesterday’s giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup, Mikaela was taken down by sled and transferred by ambulance to be evaluated at Rutland Regional Medical Center,' the US Ski Team stated. 'There was no ligament damage assessed. Bones and internal organs look OK. There is a puncture wound into the right side of her abdomen and severe muscle trauma.'
Shiffrin was leading after the first run of the giant slalom on Saturday, aiming for her 100th World Cup win. As she approached the finish line during her second run, the 29-year-old lost her edge, slid into a gate, and flipped head over skis, subsequently slamming into another gate before coming to a stop in the protective fencing.
Shiffrin remained on the side of the course for an extended period, requesting a sled to take her down the mountain as she was 'in shock, entirely unable to move, and worried about internal organ trauma,' according to her statement. She was transported by ambulance to a medical center, where doctors decided against stitching the abdominal wound due to its depth and the risk of infection.
Throughout her 14-year career, Shiffrin has recovered from two previous on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015, and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and Shiffrin returned to racing within two months both times.
Despite the soreness from the crash, Shiffrin will miss the slalom on Sunday, a race she has dominated, having won six out of seven times she competed in the slalom at Killington. A fan favorite at the venue, Shiffrin grew up in New Hampshire and Colorado and honed her skills at the nearby Burke Mountain Academy.
'She can’t walk very well right now, so she can’t get to the venue even though she is dying to cheer for her teammates in person,' the team statement read. 'She will be cheering loudly from her place in Killington.'
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