“The Girl Who Failed . . . Could Also Fly”

With disqualifications within the slalom and the large slalom within the 2022 Olympics, US alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin headed into the super-G occasion feeling excited and positive. Sadly, she did not medal, however she had a solid run, snowboarding with a time of 1:14:34, simply 0.79 seconds behind the winner. This earned her ninth place out 44 ladies.

“I proved to myself that I can nonetheless belief my instincts a bit, and that is actually, actually large,” the 26-year-old mentioned after the race, in response to NBC. “And for all of the individuals who have been sending me assist, I can solely say: Thanks.” She has felt overwhelmed by the kindness individuals have proven her after “severely underperforming.” “I by no means would have anticipated that,” Shiffrin mentioned on NBC’s stay broadcast. “It is probably the most stunning factor of my Olympic expertise is how form individuals have been within the face of my failure.” And though she feels sorry for her failure, she mentioned, “I additionally was making an attempt, and I am happy with that.”

This morning, Shiffrin shared a message to her supporters. “The lady who failed . . . might additionally fly,” she wrote on Instagram. “It is fantastic to coach and compete alongside all of those brave and unimaginable ladies, who’ve overcome a lot of their life, simply to get right here. However being right here can actually damage too. There’s a number of disappointment and heartbreak going round within the end space, however there’s additionally a number of assist.”

Shiffrin can compete in two extra occasions in Beijing: the downhill and the alpine mixed. “It is lots to digest in only one occasion . . . not to mention the entire rollercoaster trip of a complete Olympics,” Shiffrin wrote. “Wellllll, guess I higher cling on tight to the coaster trigger we have now loads nonetheless to return. First DH coaching begins tomorrow!”

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She added: “Sending my like to those that are feeling that putting damage of defeat . . . solely let it beat you down for a little bit bit, and then you definitely get up once more and throw a number of punches again. . . . Right this moment was an excellent day, so I am simply gonna let or not it’s that.” We’re trying ahead to seeing her race on Monday, Feb. 14, at 10 p.m. ET.