Shiffrin and Petra Vlhová celebrating in Courchevel December 2023: GEPA pictures
Mikaela Shiffrin Reflects on Recovery and Return to World Cup Racing
Mikaela Shiffrin, the winningest Alpine skier in World Cup history, is set to return to competition after a season-interrupting injury. On November 30, 2024, during her home race in Killington, Vermont, Shiffrin suffered a puncture to her abdomen that required surgery. After weeks of focused rehabilitation, she will compete in a night slalom in Courchevel, France, on January 30, 2025, exactly 60 days after her injury. This race will be her final race before participating in the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, in February.
In an exclusive interview with Ski Racing Media, Shiffrin shared insights into her recovery journey and plans for her comeback.
Marking Her Return
Shiffrin’s return to racing will occur at the night slalom in Courchevel, her first competition since the abdominal injury that derailed her season. The Courchevel race marks a significant milestone as part of her recovery and a step toward the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria.
While Shiffrin is expected to race the slalom on February 15, her participation in the February 14 giant slalom will depend on how her recovery progresses in the coming weeks. “The next step is returning to competition,” she said. “That doesn’t actually mean I’m 100% recovered… we’ll need to continue working on healing and in particular scarring and increased tightness for a while.”
Addressing the Injury
Shiffrin described the two-pronged focus of her recovery: healing the wound and restoring muscle function. “We started off in the beginning very focused on the wound healing,” she explained. “That was essential for obvious reasons… we also needed to be careful because of the risk of infection with a non-sterile deep puncture wound.” Although surgery became necessary to prevent an infection, early intervention helped her avoid more serious complications.
Rebuilding muscle strength proved equally challenging. “I could literally feel a gap between a section of my muscle for the first couple weeks,” Shiffrin said. Early on, her core was so weak that even minor use left her unable to stay upright. However, as she regained muscle connection, she progressed steadily through different rehabilitation phases.
Reaction to Petra Vlhová’s Absence from Worlds
When asked about Petra Vlhová’s announcement that she will miss the World Championships in Saalbach, Shiffrin expressed a mixture of emotions. Vlhová suffered a season-ending knee injury after falling during her home giant slalom in Jasná, Slovakia, on January 20, 2024 and has yet to return to competition. Their rivalry, considered one of the sport’s most significant, has been a defining feature of many seasons.
“Ugh… There isn’t an easy answer for this. I really miss her at the races…we all do. I miss having the battles with her but also just simply watching her ski,” Shiffrin said. “At the same time, my greatest hope for her is that she returns strong when it’s time. So I’d like to believe that she and her team are taking the necessary time she needs to do that.”
Shiffrin continued, reflecting on the challenges Vlhová has faced. “In the end, I do believe she will come back stronger, but in the meantime, it is very sad to imagine the challenges she has faced with this recovery. She is and has always been relentless in doing the work, and I respect that so much.”
The absence of Vlhová will undoubtedly be felt in Saalbach, leaving a gap in one of the sport’s most celebrated rivalries. However, Shiffrin’s sentiments highlight the mutual respect between two of Alpine skiing’s fiercest competitors.
Milestones in Recovery
For Shiffrin, even small achievements carried significant meaning during her recovery. One of her earliest challenges was eating correctly while dealing with substantial abdominal swelling. “I can’t tell you how full I felt constantly,” she explained. The swelling limited how much food she could consume, even though she was advised to eat a high-protein diet to aid muscle recovery. “I literally couldn’t fit enough food in my stomach with the swelling taking up so much space,” she added. Overcoming this obstacle was an essential step in regaining her strength.
As her condition improved, other milestones stood out as equally meaningful. “When I started to notice less swelling in my stomach, that felt huge,” Shiffrin shared. Regaining the ability to laugh or cough without pain marked another major turning point. Physically, achieving side planks and jogging again opened the door to more advanced exercises and signaled steady progress.
Reflecting on her pace of recovery, Shiffrin noted, “When you compare it to clinical research… I’m around two weeks ahead, if not more.” Although surgery added complexity to her recovery timeline, she now sees how far she has come. “Looking back now, it’s so obvious how much improvement there has been,” she said, emphasizing her progress’s steady and rewarding nature.
Returning to Competition
Balancing her physical limits with the demands of on-snow training remains a challenge. “The most helpful thing to me psychologically is to get as much repetition in gates as possible,” Shiffrin explained. However, her body still needs time to build tolerance for the intensity of racing. Despite these challenges, she is eager to take this next step in Courchevel.
Current Readiness
Physically, Shiffrin feels strong but acknowledges lingering gaps in endurance and timing. “The technique and timing are coming back with each run I take,” she noted. Mentally, she is focused on embracing the opportunity to race again. “This is kind of a case of not overthinking it but just enjoying being able to step into a race start again,” she said.
Her gratitude for this opportunity is clear. “Any other athlete with a season-ending injury would choose 100% of the time to be in the position to return same-season,” she remarked.
Observing the World Cup
Shiffrin has kept a close eye on the World Cup circuit despite her absence. “We’ve had quite a few new faces on the podium this season,” she said, highlighting her teammate Paula Moltzan’s podium in Kronplatz and Cougs’ (Lauren Macuga’s) performance in St. Anton. Shiffrin also celebrated Atle Lie McGrath’s slalom victory in Wengen, calling his skiing “so strong and powerful and beautiful to watch.”
Shiffrin remains focused on the process rather than the outcome as she prepares for her highly anticipated return. Two months after a significant injury, her journey back to competition is a testament to her resilience and love for the sport. Fans worldwide will watch as she takes her next step under the lights in Courchevel and prepares for her possible appearance at the World Championships.
About the Author: Peter Lange
