Two-Time Olympic Champion Mikaela Shiffrin has experienced the hardest consequences of taking the wrong turn at the Beijing Olympics. Her first opportunity for a gold medal was over almost as soon as it began. On Monday in Yanqing, under a beautiful sunny sky, Shiffrin’s attempted to survive an early left turn in her giant slalom debut in Beijing but she lost an edge on the fifth gate of the first run of the women’s giant slalom and skied out. It’s the first time she is unable to finish a GS race since January 2018.
Through the first four gates, Shiffrin claimed she feels great. She lost her balance and fell off the left corner of her skis as she approached the fifth gate. She skied out to the side and paused for a few moments, observing the spot where her chances of winning gold disappeared. Shiffrin disclosed that she skied a couple of really good turns and one turn that was a little off, and she paid the price.
Shiffrin was chasing the third medal as she presently holds three Olympic medals including two gold and one silver from her first two Winter Games. She tried to earn one more to tie Julia Mancuso for most by an American woman. Two more golds would tie her with Janica Kostelic and Kjetil Andre Aamodt for most in Alpine skiing.
Furthermore, Shiffrin disclosed that she has the wish to do all five individual events at the Beijing Olympics, and her next race will be Wednesday’s slalom. But unfortunately, her days are now over earlier than anticipated, she has decided to spend time training slalom. She said that she is not going to cry over this and waste her energy rather she will do her very best to keep right mentally and keep moving.
