- Crashed into gates during giant slalom in Vermont
- Has undergone abdominal surgery after the accident
- Is in good spirits and has shared update from hospital
Olympic gold medallist Mikaela Shiffrin has undergone abdominal surgery to clean out a puncture wound sustained during a giant slalom crash two weeks ago.
The accident occurred on November 30 during the Killington Cup in Vermont, where she was leading the race and chasing her 100th World Cup win.
Shiffrin lost control near the finish line, slid into a gate, flipped head over skis, and collided with another gate before stopping in protective fencing.
She was transported off the course on a sled and later diagnosed with bruises and a deep puncture to her hip area, though no ligament or bone damage occurred.
She had been using a wound vacuum to treat the injury but developed complications.
‘Gotta love a curveball,’ she wrote.
Olympic gold medallist Mikaela Shiffrin is recovering in hospital after abdominal surgery
The dual gold medal winner suffered an injury in a crash in Vermont in November
Shiffrin competing in the women’s giant slalom at the Stifel Killington Cup alpine skiing race in Vermont where the accident occured
‘Had a little unexpected surgery on Thursday evening after feeling a bit under the weather.
‘Turns out I had a little cavity deeper than the wound tract that was filled with old hematoma and wasn’t properly draining with wound vac or normal packing.’
On Thursday, she underwent surgery to wash out the wound and close it with sutures and a drain.
Following the surgery, Shiffrin has been recuperating at home in Edwards, Colorado.
‘Biggest bummer right now is that I can’t get up to the finish to watch my teammates race @bcworldcup in person. But I’m watching and cheering on TV!’ She shared on Instagram.
There is no set timeline for her return to competition.
The injuries interrupted her attempt to add to her record-breaking career achievements, which include five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, one silver, and seven world championships.
Shiffrin holds the record for the most World Cup wins by any Alpine skier in history, surpassing Lindsey Vonn’s women’s record of 82 wins in January 2023 and Ingemar Stenmark’s 87-win record in March 2023.
Despite the setback, Shiffrin remains optimistic and grateful for the care she has received.
‘So thankful for all of the wonderful care and support I’ve received!’ She continues to focus on her recovery, hoping to return to the slopes in the coming weeks,’ she posted.
