Mikaela Shiffrin wouldn't commit to competing in downhill after second training run
One of the best skiers in the world is participating in training for the women’s downhill event at the PyeongChang Olympics, but Mikaela Shiffrin still isn’t sure she’ll be around for the finals.
Shiffrin put down a 1:41.55 time during her second training run at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on Monday in Korea, well off the leader’s pace. When asked if she will compete in the finals on Wednesday, Shiffrin would not commit one way or the other.
“I mean I want to, for sure. But I don’t know, I’m kinda gonna see how it goes tomorrow,” Shiffrin said on NBC. “I definitely want to pick up my speed in sections. So that’s kind of my biggest goal for tomorrow and then we’ll see.”
Shiffrin has one more training run to go on Tuesday before the finals, which she apparently will participate in.
The 22-year-old Shiffrin indicated a desire to compete in five different alpine skiing events at the Games (slalom, giant slalom, downhill, Super-G and combined), but heavy winds on the ski slopes have put her schedule in disarray. She has already had to pull out of the Super-G, though her skis did get some gold when Ester Ledecka shocked the world with some borrowed equipment.
Shiffrin already has a gold medal in giant slalom and a disappointing fourth place finish in slalom. If she doesn’t receive an indication she can compete for medals in downhill, there’s a good chance she chooses to focus on the combined event, which includes two runs in her slalom specialty.
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