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Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA sits on the sidelines: eliminated
Photo:
Robert F. Bukaty / dpa
Ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has experienced the next debacle at the Olympic Winter Games in China.
After her early exit in the giant slalom, the American also made a mistake in the first run of the slalom on Wednesday and was already out after a few goals.
The 26-year-old sat next to the track for minutes with her head hanging down and an incredulous expression on her face.
"It's not the end of the world," Shiffrin said afterwards.
"But I think I have to question a lot now." Then she could no longer hold back the tears in front of the cameras.
Lindsey Vonn: "It takes nothing away from her outstanding career"
Within just three days, the long-time alpine dominator has already missed two great chances of winning a medal.
She probably still has the biggest one in the combination.
She announced that she would try to press the reset button again.
"Maybe I'll do better this time," she said.
Even if you don't know exactly how.
Shiffrin, normal constancy in person, does not know such situations.
"Of course there's a lot of pressure, but that wasn't the biggest issue today," she said.
"I wanted to take the most aggressive line," she analyzed her short run.
Maybe she overdid it with her attack.
"I started with a strong mentality - then I was out," she said.
"It's disappointing."
However, Shiffrin's absolute parade discipline is the slalom.
In addition to Olympic gold in 2014, she has already won four World Championships and 47 World Cup victories here - more than any other ski ace in a discipline.
“It doesn't take anything away from her still outstanding career.
This one race doesn't change that," her compatriot Lindsey Vonn told NBC TV about Shiffrin's end in the Olympic slalom.
With 82 World Cup victories, Vonn, who retired in 2019, is the only one ahead of Shiffrin (73) in the all-time list of women's best.
They each have three medals at the Olympics – Shiffrin has two gold medals, and Vonn has one.
If Shiffrin wants another one in China, she has to catch herself again quickly.
ara/dpa