Alpine skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin’s return to World Cup racing remains uncertain, with the double Olympic champion unlikely to compete
again this year. In a statement released by her team on Sunday, December 1, Shiffrin’s status was described as “TBD” (to be determined). The
29-year-old sustained a serious injury during the second run of the giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, suffering a puncture wound
to the right side of her abdomen along with severe muscle trauma. Despite the depth of the injury, Shiffrin did not require stitches due to the
risk of infection. “I have a stab wound, basically,” Shiffrin told NBC Sports, reflecting on the crash. “I was purposely trying to run the most aggressive
line I could. We’re just not totally sure how I got punctured.” Describing the aftermath, her team reported that Shiffrin was in shock and unable to
move as she was transported off the course on a sled, concerned about potential internal organ damage. However, after undergoing several
scans at Rutland Regional Medical Centre, doctors found no ligament damage, and Shiffrin’s bones and organs were declared to be intact.
The five-time World Cup champion expressed relief upon reviewing the crash footage, stating, “I feel quite lucky.” Nevertheless, Shiffrin noted
she was still limited in movement and struggling to walk over the weekend, adding that her recovery could take several weeks. As a result,
her participation in the Beaver Creek Super-G event on December 15 seems highly unlikely. This injury marks the second time in her career that
Shiffrin has had to pause her competition due to injury. Earlier this year, she missed a month of racing after a crash in the Cortina downhill led
to a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament injury in her left knee, ultimately ending her hopes of securing the big Crystal Globe.