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Although she is broadly thought of probably the most dominant skier of her era — and can go down as one of many best ever when she ultimately retires — even securing one medal is in no way a certainty, given the standard of her opposition.
Shiffrin might be among the many gold medal contenders within the mixed — an occasion she received silver in 4 years in the past in PyeongChang and in addition received ultimately 12 months’s World Championships — though Monday’s DNF within the large slalom is proof that nothing is a given in alpine snowboarding.
It was a record-breaking forty seventh World Cup slalom win for Shiffrin, who grew to become the skier with probably the most victories in a single World Cup self-discipline, breaking Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark’s earlier file of 46 large slalom wins.
The win was definitely one thing of a shock, as Vlhova had dominated the slalom this season with 5 wins and two runner-up finishes.
The rescheduling of three of the 5 occasions in PyeongChang because of excessive winds compelled Shiffrin to tug out of super-G and downhill and the compacted schedule impacted her preparation for the slalom, main her to fall agonizingly in need of a medal in fourth place.
Nevertheless, exterior elements allowing in Beijing, Shiffrin ought to have a official shot at claiming a trio of medals.
Overcoming grief
The upcoming Video games might be notably emotional for Shiffrin as she competes on the Olympics for the primary time with out her father, Jeff, who died instantly from an accident in February 2020 whereas at dwelling in Colorado. He was 65.
Competing on the opposite aspect of the world on the time, the devastated skier rushed dwelling along with her mom Eileen and brother Taylor to be by his aspect.
It’s a given within the snowboarding world that few households are as tight because the Shiffrins. Through the season, her mom is ceaselessly seen alongside Shiffrin on the race hill.
Her father would be a part of the media within the end space, attempting to seize one of the best image of his daughter crossing the end line. One other medal in tow, one other reminiscence for the household album.
“Snowboarding is one thing that my complete household shares. And my dad, he beloved snowboarding, he beloved it … I discovered being on the mountains was like being near him.”
‘The results are too huge’
Monday proved to be a tricky day for snowboarding’s most well-known energy couple.
Not lengthy after Shiffrin had crashed out after simply 5 turns of her opening runs, her boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde might solely handle fifth place within the males’s downhill.
Kilde is presently the world’s No. 1 males’s downhill skier and was favourite the take gold coming into Beijing 2022, however he admitted “some errors” value him any probability at a medal.
Forward of their opening occasions, Kilde defined what life was like within the Olympic Village with Shiffrin.
“Everyone says: ‘Yeah, now you’ll be able to spend a lot time collectively and it is good to have her’ but it surely’s tougher,” he says. “With Covid and restrictions, you must be actually cautious.
“It is a tease sort of, if you recognize what I imply. You see her however you’ll be able to’t actually contact her, cannot actually be along with her that a lot. But it surely’s very nice to have her right here. After all we will eat dinner collectively and it is no drawback. We actually take pleasure in that.
“We’re protecting the identical routine as at all times, face-timing, speaking on the cellphone. We attempt to watch out as a result of if we get Covid then the implications are too huge.”
Given their aggressive nature — and the actual fact they’re each on the high of their discipline — Klide mentioned it is helpful for each of them to be courting a high-level skier.
“Simply typically how issues are feeling, experiences, decision-making,” he says. “All these basic issues about snowboarding, not likely an excessive amount of technical.
“She sends me movies and I ship her movies after which we attempt to be taught from one another a bit of. I’ve rather a lot to be taught from her.”
‘Morality versus with the ability to do your job’
In an interview with CNN in 2021, Shiffrin spoke concerning the “morality” of competing at Beijing 2022 beneath the shadow of alleged human rights violations in China, specifically towards the Uyghur inhabitants in Xinjiang.
The US State Division estimates as many as two million Uyghurs and different ethnic minorities have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang province since 2017, though China has repeatedly denied accusations of human rights abuses.
“What’s an actual bummer is that there is not solely accusations however, like, official proof in plenty of these locations we have been going the final a number of Olympics,” she mentioned.
“One of many essential issues concerning the Olympics is that it’s speculated to be a world occasion, not simply in your kind of mainstream sporting international locations, but it surely’s speculated to be world. I do perceive the significance of attempting to remain true to that pledge, primarily. However it’s robust, to be trustworthy.
“The Olympics is huge, and it is one thing that you simply shoot for, and you do not wish to miss it.
“And also you definitely do not wish to be put within the place of getting to decide on between human rights like morality versus with the ability to do your job, which however can carry mild to some points or can truly carry hope to the world at a really tough time.”
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