More Sports
ES Fancast
Nov 29, 2024 | 4:45 AM CST
With 99 World Cup race victories to her name, Mikaela Shiffrin is on the verge of further solidifying her GOAT status by reaching the historic milestone of 100 wins. However, the five-time overall World Cup champion has her sights set beyond this immediate achievement. At 29, Shiffrin is already preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, the three-time Olympian discussed the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. Dubbed Milano-Cortina 2026 edition of the biggest event in winter sports will set a unique precedent. Instead of a single host city, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will become the main hosts for the event. However, no one expected Shiffrin to take a veiled jab at the FIS World Cup when talking about Cortina.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“We are so much more familiar with racing in Italy,” Shiffrin said about being familiar with the famous venue. “It’s pretty exciting to go back to a place and not have a time change or flight to take. We can actually compete where we’re used to competing and feel like this is a place we should be racing,” the American told Olympics.com, slyly criticizing the FIS’s hectic schedule.
Mikaela Shiffrin met a season-derailing crash at Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26. Yet, she had no qualms about racing at the venue that put the skier out of action for over a month and derailed her plans to her a sixth overall title. Why? Well because the Shiffrin had observed the rise in injuries coinciding with the hectic scheduling of the FIS World Cup races.
Is Mikaela Shiffrin right to blame FIS scheduling for injuries, or is it just part of the sport?
Debate
“I absolutely believe that fatigue at this point in the season plays a role in the injuries we have seen lately,” Shiffrin said after returning to win the downhill at Åre, Sweden in March. She didn’t make these comments lightly either. Barely a week had passed since Shiffrin partner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde suffered a season-ending injury in Wengen.
Veteran racers Marco Kohler, Marco Schwarz, Alexis Pinturault, and Petra Vlhova all suffered crashes last season. So the skiing icon is glad she won’t have to incessantly travel between venues during the Olympics. “We can actually compete where we’re used to competing and feel like this is a place we should be racing,” added Shiffrin. Yet, what’s wrong with the schedule?
Mikaela Shiffrin secured her 62nd slalom victory in Gurgl, Austria, bringing her total to 99 wins on the World Cup circuit. However, despite the celebratory atmosphere, the athlete expressed concerns about fatigue setting in after just three events in the 2024-25 competitive calendar. The 29-year-old elaborated on her worries, highlighting the challenges posed by excessive travel.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“It is challenging to be in Sölden, then Levi, then back in Gurgl… It is really hard on the body and mind,” Shiffrin said after her landmark victory in Austria. The alpine skiing legend explained that had the season started a little later, they wouldn’t have to travel from Austria to Finland and then to Austria again.
The sole reason Levi had to be inserted between Sölden and Gurgl was because there was a delayed snowfall at Gurgl. The Olympian is not alone in suggesting this solution. Nearly 150 skiers submitted a joint petition requesting the FIS to do the same. However, FIS has refused to delay starting the competitive skiing season, saying that making a calendar is like an immensely complicated balancing act. However, Mikaela Shiffrin hopes the 2026 Olympics being a much shorter event with less won’t have this issue.
Let the world know your perspective.
Debate
EssentiallySports is a digital-first sports media house that surfaces the best stories on America's favorite sports celebrities with a fan's perspective to 30+ M average monthly readers.
Sports
All
Boxing
Golf
NASCAR
NBA
NFL
Tennis
UFC
WNBA
College Football
Track and Field
Gymnastics
Olympics
MLB
Soccer
Swimming
EssentiallySports
About Us
Advertise With Us
Authors
Editorial Team
Behind The Scenes
Humans of EssentiallySports
Contact Us
FAQs
Our Brands
FanCast
On The Ropes
Bodybuilding Bros
Club Golf
Lucky Dog on Track
Sports
All
Boxing
Golf
NASCAR
NBA
NFL
Tennis
UFC
WNBA
College Football
Track and Field
Gymnastics
Olympics
MLB
Soccer
Swimming
Privacy Policy
ES Pressroom
Ethics Policy
Fact-Checking Policy
Corrections Policy
Cookies Policy
GDPR Compliance
Terms of Use
Editorial Guidelines
Ownership and funding Information
Full Spectrum Services LLP © 2024 |
