“I Don’t Feel Like I Deserve It” – Mikaela Shiffrin Thanks Fans For Support After Her Setbacks At Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Mikaela Shiffrin wrapped up her super-G race with a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, it was her first completed course this Olympic run, and on the other hand, it’s a medal-less run that she now takes back home. For arguably one of the most successful athletes in the sport, this can hardly be what you consider a successful game.

However, it is often how we react to our shortcomings that defines what we achieve. And Shiffrin showed in a good measure why she is rated so highly. In one of the most honest media interactions to come from the sport in recent memory, Shiffrin opened up about the support she has received since her exit in the previous events and her immediate reaction to it.

The nature of sport is to be unpredictable. But Shiffrin has proven that incorrect in the past. She won with regularity and dominance where most racers started the race competing for second place, and consistently at that. However, her run at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 has been anything but that. After two premature crashes and exits in the slalom and giant slalom, Shiffrin only pieced together a 9th placed finish, almost 0.8 seconds behind the leader, Lara Gut-Behrami, who took home the gold. However, ever classy, Shiffrin opened up about the support she has received.

Mikaela Shiffrin speaks about the support she has received

Shiffrin seemed quite overwhelmed with the support she received over the past few days saying, “I don’t feel like I deserve it.” Speaking about the multitude of wishes she has received, Shiffrin said that she was glad she had received them but every time she saw someone wishing her she just thought it wasn’t necessary.

Shiffrin added, “I’m just thinking ‘you don’t have to waste your time on me’ cause I’m gonna be fine.”

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The multiple-time Olympic winner clearly has learnt to deal with her losses and knows how to tackle a setback. However, in no way did this mean that she was not cognizant of her loss. In fact, she was extremely aware of it. Said Shiffrin, “Right now it really stings and I feel disappointed from the GS and the slalom race. That disappointment is huge and I know a lot of people feel it. And I feel bad for letting myself down.” 

Shiffrin on the road ahead

A true professional, Shiffrin seemed less upset about the lost win than the chance to compete. Said Shiffrin, “I mostly feel bad because I wanted to ski the full track and I wanted to ski well. That was just my biggest goal and I didn’t really get to do that.” Taking back some positives from the super-G though, Shiffrin stated that the race gave her back her confidence and trust in her instincts which was huge for her.

“There’s No Space”: Mikaela Shiffrin Reveals the Reason Behind Her Shocking Performances at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Adding on a final message for all those that have wished her on her journey so far, Shiffrin said “I can only say ‘Thank You’ because there’s not enough time to answer everything and certainly not time to answer emphatically enough how much I appreciate just the kindest words I can ever imagine.”