Mikaela Shiffrin Took a “Risk” and Ended With a Disappointing Defeat Against Italian Skier: “The Only Way I Have a Chance Is to…”

The legendary Mikaela Shiffrin is just one win away from tying with the all-time record of 86 World Cup wins, set by Swedish skier, Ingemar Stenmark. On a contrasting note, the alpine skiing prodigy was disqualified from the Women’s Combined title at the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships, which took place on the 6th of February in the Savoyard resorts of Meribel.

According to a recent article by The Guardian, the athlete opened up about the risk she took that led to her upsetting defeat. She was outraced by her Italian counterpart, Federica Brignone, who emerged as the new combined champion.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s grand risk   

Talking to Associated Press, the 2-time Olympic gold medalist unfolded the grounds of her startling loss as she took the spot around the third-to-last gate. One of her skis got tangled in a snow ditch sliding her off course. However, she trailed the Italian skier by 0.96 seconds. She revealed, “The only way I have a chance is to ski full, full gas.”

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“So I was doing that, take the risk that you don’t finish,” she continued. Reportedly, Shiffrin was the reigning champion of the women’s combined event. However, her recent adventure got her a DNF for not completing the race at all. 

Furthermore, she admitted, “So, that’s disappointing, but it’s always quite positive how I was skiing.” This is the only race she couldn’t win after her defeat at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Her list of achievements boasts of a magnificent record of 11 medals from 13 slaloms and 6 world championship triumphs. Similarly, she once let out her emotions after her massive defeat at the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

Mikaela Shiffrin was once utterly disheartened by her loss

As per sources, the 27-year-old athlete finished fifth at the women’s combined downhill event. Unfortunately, she couldn’t complete the race and her dream of grabbing the gold didn’t transpire. Later, she expressed her sentiments on the cause.

Post-race, she said in an interview, “I feel like a joke. I don’t know if anybody failed that hard with so many opportunities.” However, her disappointment was short-lived as she respawned back into action and now has a high chance of being marked as the ultimate G.O.A.T. What did you think of her Women’s combined performance? Did she take the right decision to ski full pace or was it just ill luck?  Let us know in the comments.

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