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Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) (AFP)
Mikaela Shiffrin will go away Cortina d’Ampezzo with 4 extra world championship medals and a step nearer to taking up because the doyenne of girls’s snowboarding.
The American adopted bronze within the super-G by alpine mixed gold, large slalom silver and a bronze in Saturday’s sun-kissed slalom.
Shiffrin’s newest medal haul noticed her grow to be the US skier with most world titles (six) and world medals (11), overtaking Ted Ligety and Lindsey Vonn respectively. Solely two feminine skiers have amassed extra medals: Germany’s Christl Cranz (15) and Anja Paerson of Sweden (13).
“It is unimaginable,” Shiffrin admitted. “I had deliberate for 4 races and I assumed ‘OK that is 4 possibilities for a medal’ and hopefully in these two weeks I can do some good snowboarding.
“I am actually happy with a lot of the snowboarding I did.”
Shiffrin, 25, enjoys an esoteric strategy to snowboarding that’s generally troublesome for onlookers to totally admire: she is going to derive as a lot pleasure from a well-executed flip in coaching as she does from gathering one other medal.
“Immediately on the primary run I used to be disillusioned,” she mentioned after her bronze medal within the slalom.
“I do not suppose I might have performed one thing to vary the color of the medal. I nonetheless stroll away with a bronze, a fourth medal so I am pleased with that.”
Shiffrin mentioned the consequence was a “little bittersweet”.
“I received a podium however I’d have preferred to have felt higher snowboarding, so there’s a little bit little bit of a discrepancy there!” she mentioned. “It is nonetheless unimaginable.”
– Overcoming grief –
After the annus horribilis Shiffrin and her household have been via, her medalling in any respect within the Italian Dolomites is nothing wanting extraordinary.
When her father Jeff died unexpectedly final 12 months, Shiffrin instantly returned residence to Colorado and spent greater than 300 days off the piste, albeit in a season minimize brief by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a 12 months, she mentioned, that felt like 20 years.
Concerning the coronavirus disaster, Shiffrin mentioned “it will be good to complete out the season with the ability to really to ski”.
“Hopefully on this summer time we’ll be capable to get again to extra regular life for everyone.
“For the athletes that can undoubtedly assist getting a little bit bit extra regular preparation and tools testing and the entire issues that go into placing collectively a great efficiency for the whole season, particularly an Olympic season.”
The 2022 Beijing Video games are actually simply lower than a 12 months away, however Shiffrin — a two-time Olympic gold medallist — wouldn’t be drawn.
“It is all the time powerful as a result of it is a 12 months away,” she mentioned. “It simply completely relies upon how subsequent season goes main as much as that.
“I can really feel wonderful now with a great mentality after which that absolutely adjustments. If I believe again on the final 12 months, it feels prefer it lasted 20 years.
“I do not know what’s in retailer for the following 12 months however I think about it’ll be eventful.”
Austria’s Katharina Liensberger, who at 23 is 2 years youthful than Shiffrin, dominated the slalom in one other race showcasing the power in depth amongst present girls racers.
Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova gained silver one second off the tempo, whereas Shiffrin was at 1.98sec.
“It was solely a matter of time for her to win her first slalom race and he or she picked a great one!” mentioned Shiffrin.
“She’s snowboarding so robust, she has a wholesome mentality, she’s actually motivated and an incredible competitor.
“She’s main the following era of athletes. She’s going to maintain the inspiration going for some time, that is one factor this sport wants.”
Shiffrin mentioned she wasn’t too upset to overlook out on what would have been a history-making fifth consecutive world title.
“Streaks can go on perpetually when you preserve successful, however sooner or later you are not going to win. It was solely a matter of time,” she mentioned.
Ever the competitor, considered one of Shiffrin’s first reactions after the slalom was to stay up for future coaching.
“Regroup… then I’ve received to shave two seconds off my slalom, so it is again to work!”
© 2021 AFP
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