The Crash That Rocked the World of Skiing
It took place on a course that Shiffrin had previously mastered in Killington, Vermont. She lost control in the middle of what appeared to be a typical run, causing her edges to catch awkwardly on the ice. She was in the air in a matter of seconds, crashing with startling velocity into the hard-packed snow. The audience fell silent.
She grasped her ribs in pain and ski patrol ran to her side. Internal bruises, profound oblique muscle injury, and a concussion scare were the official diagnoses. Her season was abruptly in doubt when she was assisted off the course. But the fight was not just about the physical injuries.
The Toll on the Mind: Shiffrin’s Lowest Points
For Shiffrin, who was renowned for her unparalleled ability to concentrate, the collision destroyed not just her body but also her self-esteem.
Shiffrin subsequently said, “The agony was one thing, but the fear of losing one’s identity as a skier? That was frightening.
Although she pushed her body to heal via physical treatment, the psychological scars were more severe. The memory of that crash replayed itself each time she entered the start gate. Doubt began to creep in. Did she exert too much pressure? Did she take too much of a chance?
Shiffrin was no longer skiing as she used to, even after she had returned to the slopes. Hesitancy took the place of the anger that characterised her. There was an overwhelming fear of falling again.
A Prolonged Road to Recuperation
To change her perspective as the Olympics drew near, Shiffrin sought the help of mental resiliency trainers and sports psychologists. She watched video of previous races, dissecting each turn, each error, and each win. She found her rhythm slowly again.
The world, however, was observing. Whether she could still compete at the highest level was questioned by many. Competitors perceived weakness. Additionally, Shiffrin was the underdog for the first time in her career.
Is She Able to Regain Her Greatness?
Shiffrin has one last test left before the Milano-Cortina Olympics in a few months: proving to herself that she is still the champion that everyone knows her to be.
“Winning isn’t the only goal here,” she explains. “I want to show that I can overcome this. that I can return stronger.
The world of skiing will soon see whether the best racer in history can return to her position as the greatest or whether the trauma of her crash will follow her for the rest of her life.
