Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin crashed during the second run of the giant slalom at the FIS Killington World Cup on Sunday, an event she has won the past five times. The 27-year-old American, who is known for her technical prowess and consistency, was attempting to make up time after a cautious first run when she lost control of her skis on the steep lower section of the course and slid into the safety netting.
Shiffrin appeared to clip a gate with her inside ski, causing her to lose her balance and crash. She was immediately attended to by medical personnel and did not finish the race. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
"I'm feeling okay," Shiffrin said after the race. "I'm just disappointed that I didn't get down to the finish. I feel like I've been skiing really well. I just made a mistake, and it was a big one."
"She was pushing a little too hard," said Olympic bronze medalist Julia Mancuso. "She's trying to win this race every year, and sometimes you try to go a little too fast and things happen."
Shiffrin's crash handed the victory to Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami, who won with a combined time of 2:21.53. Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway finished second, and Petra Vlhova of Slovakia took third.
Despite the setback, Shiffrin remains the overall World Cup leader and is still considered a favorite for the overall title. She is scheduled to compete in the slalom race in Killington on Monday.
Mikaela Shiffrin's crash in the giant slalom in Killington was a disappointing moment for the American star, but it does not diminish her status as one of the greatest skiers in the world. She will look to bounce back in the slalom race on Monday and continue her pursuit of a record-breaking seventh straight World Cup overall title.