Winter Olympics rocked by devastating Mikaela Shiffrin drama
For the second time in as many events at the Beijing Winter Olympics, US skiing favourite Mikaela Shiffrin has crashed out in the early rounds.
The 26-year-old two-time Olympic champ hit a gate early in her first run of the slalom, ruining her chances of a medal and mirroring her misfortune from two days prior in the giant slalom.
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The 2014 Sochi gold medallist's dreams of becoming the first American alpine racer to win three gold medals were dashed once again in just a matter of seconds, as she missed the early gate and was subsequently unable to complete her run.
Images of a devastated Shiffrin bowing her head after the missed run left Winter Olympics fans feeling her pain.
Already bruised after her error in the giant slalom, her second DNF in as many attempts snapped a remarkable run of consistency from the former Olympic champion, who had not recorded such a result in the previous four years.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the event, Shiffrin was understandably disappointed but held her head high.
“Pretty awful,” Shiffrin said of how she was feeling.
“But it won’t feel awful for ever. I just feel pretty low right now.
“I was pushing out of the start. I had full intentions of skiing as hard as I could.
"I slipped up a little bit on one turn and I just didn’t give myself room to make any kind of error like that. I was planning to go on the most aggressive line, the most challenging line to ski.”
Fans on social media showed their support for the American favourite after the devastating run.
simone biles supporting mikaela shiffrin after mikaela came to her defense last summer has me crying in the club rn
(by club I mean kitchen but still) https://t.co/ZkRQKBihgp— victoria price (@victoriapricetv) February 9, 2022
“Makes me second guess the last 15 years…”
A very emotionally raw moment with Mikaela Shiffrin after her early exit @NBCOlympics #NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/1cF4iCLfT5— Ryan Kath (@RyanNBCBoston) February 9, 2022
Mikaela Shiffrin’s interview. Wow.a reminder of all the effort and hard work put in by these athletes to have this shot. when it comes crashing down after all of it, there’s no doubt how crushing it is to the soul and how hard it is to take. Wishing all the best to her cuz wow 🥺
— Howard Chen 陈定豪 (@TheHoChen) February 9, 2022
Vulnerability is everywhere. Mikaela Shiffrin, crying, on NBC: "This makes me second guess, like, the last 15 years, everything I thought I knew about my own skiing, in slalom, and my own racing mentality."
— John Branch (@JohnBranchNYT) February 9, 2022
Mikaela Shiffrin is so strong. I think it's so obnoxious for the cameras to stay on her for so long while she processes the shock of disqualification. And then for her to have to struggle through an interview immediately after. Just let her process, please! She is human.
— Anne Most (@anne_most) February 9, 2022
Mikaela Shiffrin don’t second guess your last 15 incredible years of skiing. What that reporter should have done is remind you how amazing you are. It was a hard course and stuff happens. Keep your head up. We all are behind you and believe in you. You are a winner. ❤️
— Cassie Carlisle (@ReporterCassie) February 9, 2022
My heart is just breaking for @MikaelaShiffrin right now. I hope she can feel all the love we are sending her way. She is a legend and I don’t say that lightly. #Olympics #mikaelashiffrin https://t.co/KjWSkdBvJj
— CNNWynn (@WynnWs) February 9, 2022
Winter Olympics nightmare continues for US star Mikaela Shiffrin
Shiffrin missed a gate early in the first run of the giant slalom two days before the slalom in Beijing and was disqualified.
Coming around a left-turn gate, the American star lost her ski's edge and fell on her side.
"The defending champion is out," one TV commentator said in disbelief.
"Oh my word, that is a major shock here at Beijing 2022."
A co-commentator added: "Wow what a shock that is.
"She just lost her grip a little bit, got low in the line. She tried to recover but that slick, icy surface doesn't allow her to get any grip on the edges."
Fans and commentators also took to social media in disbelief.
"That Shiffrin fall was one of those moments in sports that is so shocking it doesn't [feel] real," wrote Tim Layden of NBC.
"I immediately thought of Usain Bolt false-starting out of the 2011 World Championships. Stadium just went silent."
Shiffrin wasn't the only athlete to fall victim to the icy giant slalom course, with a number of other competitors also crashing.
The Beijing Olympics are the first in history to use 100 per cent artificial snow due to the cold but dry climate.
Shiffrin arrived in China as one of the most-watched athletes in any sport at the Winter Olympics, a superstar who has dominated ski racing for long stretches in recent years.
She has said she hoped to enter all five individual events at Yanqing Alpine Skiing Centre.
With AP
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