Shiffrin

[Duffman]

I think she is the best slalom skier on the ladies side ever. She's had a brutal year. (Dad, Back, Covid) Any one of those could justify an off year. All three together.
It's not like she took a spot from another American at every world cup event and in training for years and then switched teams. There are people out their I feel disdain towards. Shiffrin and Vonn both get nothing but my support. Many athletes have a tough Olympics. She's even handled the adversity with grace.

Absolutely. This has been a nightmare Olympics for her, but I can't imagine that anyone is relishing in her misfortune. She is an amazing skiier and apparently not someone anyone should have a reason to relish in her misfortune. She has handled this all with class and I wish nothing but continued success for her

[Danno]

I strongly dislike some of the hot takes in this thread, but I won't take issue with them because people love to speculate and I don't think anyone here is trying to tear her down, I think we all support her.

I don't profess to having a clue why she had three DNFs at the Olympics when that was not her MO before. I expect that she will figure it out and continue to dominate. But even if she doesn't, even if she retires tomorrow, I will raise a glass and toast to her as one of my favorite athletes ever, to watch and to "follow".

[Supermoon]

Yeah, well said Danno

[SumJongGuy]

+2 First and foremost at this point, she deserves to be happy.

[From_the_NEK]

I don't profess to having a clue why she had three DNFs at the Olympics when that was not her MO before. I expect that she will figure it out and continue to dominate. But even if she doesn't, even if she retires tomorrow, I will raise a glass and toast to her as one of my favorite athletes ever, to watch and to "follow".

This...
As I said before, she owes us nothing. In fact, if I ever bump into her at one of the local watering holes when she is visiting Burke, drinks are on me

[snojones]

Here here Dano!!

[The AD]

It's impossible to say what the future holds for her. Some athletes have suffered setbacks like this and come back stronger. Some never recover. Agreed that either way she's cemented an amazing career and doesn't owe us anything. She needs to do what's best for herself.

[ill-advised strategy]

What I hope for any of our great racers is something like Billy Kidd or Tommy Moe or Deb Armstrong or Jonny Mosely…a kind of permanent write-your-own-ticket ambassadorship for the sport.

If that’s now, well, so be it. If it’s 15 more seasons, awesome.

Here’s some things That are Undeniable:
1) she’s a once in a lifetime talent in our sport
2) she’s been relentlessly classy from day 1

Any bad vibes going her way are 100% irrelevant, anybody who disrespects Shiffrin is a complete bozo.

[TahoeJ]

Seems about time for her to have a life. Maybe bang out some kids

Forget that, she's only 26. If she did decide to walk away I hope she goes out and has some fun and gets to let loose a little after training 24/7 since she was like 10 years old. Going straight into motherhood after all of that at such a young age doesn't sound all that great.

[montanaskier]

She’s had 5 DNFs in her career prior to the Olympics, that’s insanity. Then to have 3 this week and had another about 3 weeks ago is also crazy. It’s well known that she likes to race in the sun more than flat light and that maybe played a role. Shit does happen in racing, just stinks it got her during the games. She need a a break but will be curious if she keeps racing hard or maybe skips a stop or two. I know Petra plans to race every event the rest of the season to capture the overall. Will MS try and get the overall or just take a timeout?


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[Conundrum]

I got flamed for suggesting she's still in a skechy/dangerous place due to losing her father. .

You got flamed for suggesting she needed to be on suicide watch.

[The AD]

Forget that, she's only 26. If she did decide to walk away I hope she goes out and has some fun and gets to let loose a little after training 24/7 since she was like 10 years old. Going straight into motherhood after all of that at such a young age doesn't sound all that great.

Seriously. This ain't the 1950s.

[HotSchmoo]

. Maybe bang out some kids

Yeah that'll solve all her problems 🙄

[skiJ]

Respect To Danno for his post ^^^ above --

i-as is on to something - and I believe what she has going-on is more than a simple back 'injury'
( ask Ligety what his back is like after fifteen years of racing ) ;
don't kind yourself : one can still live a "normal" life - but the things that allow athletic excellence start to slip away. strength. quickness. ability to react.
( sometimes, the great ones can extend their careers on guile -
to me, Ted's 2018 gs was sad - Because he had been Great for pretty-much ten years )

- covid in December...

SJG has been flamed for expressing concern for her safety / her wellbeing - But though poorly presented, he wasn't wrong :
a mistake a Downhill Race speed can have serious consequences...
Before last week, she had not been on speed skis since LakeLouise. six weeks - That's nuts.

a coaching change a month before the Olympics
( I wonder if we will ever hear the real story about that )

Lindsey said it well :
That's ski racing. . .


Here's my bit -
Whoever insisted / decided to maintain the five-event Goal after she missed Five Weeks of training in November and December did her a huge disservice
( and I have no doubt she had huge sponsorship contracts dependent on multiple medals... )

when her back flared in November - And again when she had covid in December, somebody Needed to say,
What are our priorities ?
What is reasonable ?

MikaelaShiffrin doesn't ski superG and Downhill to finish 9th and 17th.


following MS's racing has been an indescribable joy to me - And
MS has shown class - and grace.

She is always a winner to me.


don't kid yourself -
with Maybe three exceptions, the ski racers who win relatively Late, weren't winning early ( Lindsay and Kjetil are the only two exceptions I think of quickly )

it's up-thread :
MS owes us nothing
( her career is already amazing. )


Thank you, MS !
watching You race has been amazing, and brought joy ( and happiness ) !

race again when You want to ! or
have a great Life doing something else You love !

MS has earned that !

... my 'Thanks ! ' skiJ

[MTT]

Yeah that'll solve all her problems ��

Hey I have no idea what a wonderful life looks like in her head

Maybe it being in a position where kids would be nice

Maybe she dreams about winning every thing every week like no one before her

What ever it is. At a minimum she has earned the right to be happy. She doesn’t owe anyone anything

[CnRzG]

I know that, from having Delta for 14 plus days in the late fall, that it isn't easy to recover from. I had brain fog for a month plus, still have ringing in my ears, and was thrown off my training regiment too. My heart goes out to MS. She is a true champion.

[TahoeJ]

I know several people who got covid in December that are still a little off or not feeling sharp, especially physically and with their breathing. 2 of them are female co-workers just a year or two older than MS (with three arm jabs). Definitely could have been a factor.

[This End Up]

Chinamen have given her the Havana Syndrome normally reserved for diplomats and CIA agents.

[ill-advised strategy]

Maybe Claudine Longet is involved

[jackstraw]

Just saw this interview. She is awesome!

https://www.today.com/video/mikaela-...m_npd_td_tw_ma

[Danno]

she is awesome

[mtnjam]

Chinamen have given her the Havana Syndrome normally reserved for diplomats and CIA agents.

Chinamen is not the preferred nomenclature.

[TahoeJ]

Chinamen is not the preferred nomenclature.

We're not talking about the people who built the fucking railroads, Walter.

[CnRzG]

Just watched the Today show interview. She has so much grace and self knowledge.

[Tips^Up]

You old men thinking that a world class athlete can no longer perform when she has a BF and should focus on becoming a mom...you're a fucking moron boomer.

I think Olympic athletes have unique pressure. They compete every year, but they gain fame and fortune from the Olympics. At the last summer Olympics, Simone Biles became a household name, national hero, crowned as the GOAT. Same thing with Mikaela at the last Winter Olympics. Now they have 4 years of dominating at gymnastics or World Cup ski racing and then get back to the biggest stage. 4 years of perfecting their craft, 4 years of social media, 4 years of sponsors lining their pockets for life. They hit the Olympics and suddenly are thrust into the greater public's eyes once more. Followers on social media grow. They're getting interviewed and adored by people you and I consider famous. Do their Oakley, Atomic, Audi, Longines, Visa, Adidas, etc. (don't know who sponsors Biles but I'm sure she deserves great ones) contracts contain bonuses for performance (like a quarterback throwing for X yards, X TDs, X for playoffs/pro bowl)? Pressure pressure pressure. They're got worldy experience, generational talents and more money than I'll ever aspire to, but these GOATs are still kids in their 20s. Pressure, attention, exposure (I follow both Shiffrin and Biles on IG), there's never been anything like this access and interaction in the history of the world. I blame us, but even more, Zuckerberg.