Mikaela Shiffrin experienced the season with a milestone and concerns about the next fall

BRATISLAVA. If the World Cup in downhill skiing were awarded a prize for fans, a handful of American children would be among the candidates.

They showed their creativity during the final event in Sun Valley and cheered in the Dalmatian costumes. Following the model of the famous 101 Dalmatian film, Mikael Shiffrin motivated her 101th World Cup victory.

We succeeded. The thirty -year -old skier dominated the home slalom with more than a second lead and the photo together also pleased the children who kept her fingers crossed.

« I think I was skiing the best I could. Especially in these conditions, which are often a challenge and I don’t like them too much, » she said.

A fall that turned the season on the Ruby

Despite the victory at the end of the season, the American did not add to the collection 9. The Crystal Globe in the discipline evaluation, which many considered certainty.

Outside the game was Petra Vlhová, Shiffrinová easily won the initially slaloms in Levi and Gurgli, but then came a moment that defended her season on Ruba.

Instead of the upcoming celebrations 100. The triumph in the World Cup fell in the second round of a huge slalom in Killington. The result was a stab wound on the right side of the abdomen and finally a two -month competition outage.

However, her problems were not just physical. Shiffrin suffered from a post -traumatic stress disorder, resulting in concerns about the next fall. In psychology, this condition is referred to as compulsive or intrusive thoughts.

Her heads were made of images as she ended up in protective networks or between trees. It forced her to slow it down and not train at high speed.

The fact that in her thoughts she returned to the survived trauma caused that the World Championship in Saalbach often fell in slalom training. One of them struck her head and had to go through tests about the concussion.

« At the top of everything was the question of what was this happening? But I knew that if I still work hard despite the difficult days, I would feel again, » Shiffrin said in the Moving Right Along series.

Video: Mikaela Shiffrin also talks about the so -called. of ancidable thoughts

Victory as the best motivation

She also mentioned a team competition with her childhood friend Breeza Johnson, who went together without any result pressure, but eventually won gold.

For Shiffrin, it was a substitute for a huge slalom, in which she could not get back into shape for a psychic block. The day before the expected 100. The victory did not even advance to the second round.

In Slalom, however, she was able to ride with a pure mind, which she confirmed not only in Sister, but also Sun Valley. The victory in the home fans who have created a great atmosphere is a motivation for her to the period between seasons.

« To show good performance in the final race is always special. This season was an incredible roller coaster. I survived very difficult moments and sometimes I asked if I should stay in this sport.

I think this result with good driving intensity and quality performance will help me in preparation for the next season, « the American said in front of the media.

Video: Mikaela Shiffrin won the slalom in Sun Valley 2025

Before the start of the 2024/2025 year, Shiffrin wanted to focus on the superbassage slalom, but eventually did not leave any race in this discipline.

This time, she will try to make it especially in the preparation to get into the huge slalom, and the end of the season is not missing at the finals of the SP as this year. « It is certainly one of the main goals, » she added.

Kosteličová has a successor

Also thanks to Mikaela Shiffrin’s injury, a chance to young competitors, who fought for the small crystal globe behind the slalom, opened up to the last round.

Although Zrinka Ljutičová did not perform optimal in Sun Valley, she benefited from a 41-point lead she had before the final race.

« It was mentally very demanding. The rides were not perfect, but I tried to be active, I did everything I could, and then I just waited for Kati how she would do, » Ljuticova told FIS.

Katharina Liensberger was the best among the candidates for the Globe’s candidates in the last race, but after the first round she dropped from fourth to fifth place. Finally, she lost 32 points to Ljutičová.

For a 21-year-old native of Zagreb, this is the first little globe in her career. In Slalom, she succeeded as a second Croat for the legendary Janice Kosteličová, whose performances on the slopes watched in her childhood.

According to Croatian ski chief, Busy Pavleka was looking for Ljutičová at the beginning of the season as she changed the ski brand, but quickly got used to it.

« It’s great that she skiing like this and she is doing well. She really looks at her well. She is young, likeable and people like her, » said Petra Vlhova before Slalom at the World Championship in Saalbach, in which Croat was ninth.

The gold was enjoyed by Swiss Camille Growth, which was also in the game for a small globe. In Sun Valley, however, she was no longer in such a form and occupied 14.

« It was incredible what happened this season. I didn’t think I’d be so good – the title from the World Cup is something big.

As for the globe, if someone told me that I would fight for it for the last race of the season, I wouldn’t believe him. It is great to be on stage again and again, « Rastova said in an interview with SRF.