Shiffrin claims super-G bronze, tying her with Vonn for most championship medals

Mikaela Shiffrin of Edwards shook off a scarcity of speed-event coaching to seize a bronze medal in super-G on the World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Thursday, tying her with Lindsey Vonn for probably the most championship medals by an American with eight.

Shiffrin has three extra alternatives to interrupt that file in addition to add to her file whole of 5 championship gold medals within the coming days, with the mixed, slalom and large slalom nonetheless on the schedule. Right here’s the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Group press launch on Thursday’s super-G:

With solely 4 days of super-G coaching beneath her belt within the final 382 days, Mikaela Shiffrin secured third place and the 2021 FIS World Ski Championships bronze medal in super-G.

After two canceled races as a result of snow and fog in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the solar lastly shone brightly on Thursday. And the Swiss girls capitalized on the climate, going 1-2 with favourite Lara Intestine-Behrami taking the gold—her fifth straight super-G win this season and first World Champs gold medal. Her teammate Corinne Suter was second.

Shiffrin got here out swinging in Cortina, trying like she hadn’t misplaced something from her time away from pace snowboarding as she hammered down the super-G. Nevertheless, she needed to pull off a large restoration close to the underside of the course, pushing her into the smooth snow and slowing her manner down. However she pulled off the athletic transfer and salvaged the bronze—her second World Championships super-G medal and eighth World Champs medal. The consequence additionally ties Shiffrin for probably the most World Championship medals for any American with former teammate Lindsey Vonn.

“That was so good to ski!” stated Shiffrin. “It’s somewhat bit smooth, however it felt like snowboarding by butter—really easy and so good. I felt like I used to be carrying actually good pace and I used to be having a lot enjoyable whereas I used to be snowboarding. I got here right down to this final part and actually wished to push it. I missed the timing somewhat bit coming off that terrain…I used to be like, that appears like a mistake somebody would make from somebody who hasn’t skied numerous super-G not too long ago! However it was actually enjoyable.”

Not numerous super-G is an understatement, because the defending World Championships super-G gold medalist Shiffrin solely ran 4 days of super-G coaching over the past yr. With the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season mixed with the tragic dying of her father, she misplaced the required hours on her lengthy skis. However she appeared like she hadn’t missed a beat in sunny Cortina, gliding again to the rostrum in her first pace occasion of the yr.

The gracious Shiffrin additionally was fast to commend her opponents. “For me, it’s simply a tremendous run on a hill I like to ski,” she stated. “I knew how the course was presupposed to be skied to win. I executed the way in which I wished to for probably the most half, however on the finish of the day, Lara was presupposed to win this. With the way in which she’s been snowboarding all season, it was superb. I might like to win gold, however it was Lara’s immediately.”

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Group teammate Breezy Johnson landed within the prime 15 in fifteenth place—her finest end in super-G this season. “I’m actually happy with how I skied,” stated Breezy. “I went on the market with braveness and confidence to execute my plan and for that, I’m actually grateful.”

However now, Breezy seems to be in the direction of the downhill, the place she’s a favourite after stepping on the rostrum in 4 downhill World Cups to this point this season. “It’s nice to get one race out of the way in which earlier than the downhill this weekend, which I’m actually trying ahead to and positively placing numerous my hopes on,” she stated. 

Bella Wright, in her first World Championships look, took twenty second—a formidable consequence for the younger 23-year-old. AJ Harm additionally squeaked into the highest 30 in her first ever World Championships in twenty ninth. Jackie Wiles was thirty second.

Subsequent up, the ladies race the World Championships downhill on Saturday. Breezy Johnson will go for the gold, with Shiffrin selecting to take a seat out and anticipate the alpine mixed on Monday.

RESULTS
Women’s World Championships super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All instances EST

Thursday, Feb. 11
5:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women’s Super-G – same-day broadcast, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, Feb. 13
5:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women’s Downhill – LIVE, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Chanel
2:30 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women’s Downhill – same-day broadcast, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC
4:30 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women’s Downhill – same-day broadcast, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Feb. 14
5:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men’s Downhill – LIVE, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Streaming Peacock
5:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men’s Downhill – LIVE, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
12:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men’s Downhill – same-day broadcast, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC
4:30 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men’s Downhill – same-day broadcast, Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN