Thinking of Kilde – World Cup victory number 94 was one of the most emotional sports for Shiffrin

After stressful days, all the dams broke for the American after her victory in Flachau.

Mikaela Shiffrin fought a hopeless battle in Flachau. Not on the slopes, where she was able to turn the duel against Petra Vlhova in her favor in the second run, but immediately afterwards. When the American accepted the congratulations from her Slovakian rival, she was able to hold back her emotions, but a few moments later it burst out of her.

“They were very challenging days,” reported the 28-year-old with tears and a cracking voice. Just two days earlier, Shiffrin had been sitting at the bedside of her friend Aleksander Kilde in Bern, who had suffered a serious fall. After that she was “quite freaked out”. But despite all the worries and only “little sleep,” she won the long-term duel with Vlhova by 0.27 seconds.

Thanks to the team and phone call with Kilde

The four-time slalom world champion said she would like to thank her team for their support after her success on Tuesday evening – and for making it possible for her to go to the hospital to see her partner. Shiffrin said her “heart was with him” and called him from the finish line immediately after her race in Austria.

The Norwegian had a serious fall on the Lauberhorn downhill run in Wengen on Saturday. He dislocated his shoulder and sustained a cut on his calf. He was taken to Bern by helicopter and operated on there. Initial images of the accident had given rise to fears of much worse injuries. It was really “not a good feeling” to see her true love crash into the fence at such high speed, said Shiffrin, who posted pictures of her visit from the hospital on Sunday.

Shiffrin celebrated her 94th World Cup victory and her 4th success in the slalom this season in Flachau. 10 days ago she didn’t finish her run in Kranjska Gora – something that only happens very rarely. A year ago she was also eliminated in Slovenia. Previously, the last outage was in January 2018.

Despite all the emotions of the last few days, Shiffrin didn’t let this bother him. She skipped the speed weekend in Zauchensee due to illness. Now the American reported back to Flachau in the way we are used to from her.