Mikaela Shiffrin reveals scary 2024 crash injuries that almost made her quit skiing before the Milan-Cortina Olympics

Mikaela Shiffrin is getting ready for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, but the road back was not easy. The Team USA ski star has now shared that her violent crash in late 2024 nearly pushed her away from the sport. She says there was a real moment when she did not know if she could ever race again.

The 30-year-old Olympic champion spoke about her fear and pain in a recent interview. She explained how her body was hurt and how her mind was shaken after the fall. For Mikaela Shiffrin, healing was not only about stitches and rehab. It was also about finding belief again.

Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about the crash that almost ended her career

In November 2024, Mikaela Shiffrin suffered a frightening crash during a World Cup race in Killington, Vermont.

The fall happened while she was chasing her 100th World Cup win. She lost control, flipped on the slope, and slammed into the safety fencing. Medical teams rushed to her side and carried her away on a stretcher.

Soon after, Mikaela Shiffrin revealed the full damage. She had a five-centimeter puncture wound near her hip. Doctors told her it missed her colon by just one millimeter. The injury was serious and scary.

Talking to People, Mikaela Shiffrin said the recovery tested her in ways she did not expect. “I don’t know that I have it in me to work all the way back from that place again,” she admitted.

She also explained that the pressure was not only physical. It was about her future in racing. “When I was returning and I was on the cusp of losing my standings in GS, that was the question,” she said.

“Can I get myself to a high enough level to earn the World Cup points to keep my standings or not? Because if I don’t, that might be the end of my GS career.”

Her words showed how close she felt to the edge. Even after many wins and two Olympic gold medals, she feared the crash could quietly close one chapter of her life.

Mikaela Shiffrin also spoke about how ski racing rankings made her comeback even harder. She explained that World Cup points decide start positions and future chances.



“When you don’t race World Cups due to injury, you can freeze your points,” she told People. “When you return, your points unfreeze. You’re racing again, but you need to start building them back up.”

That meant she could not just come back. She had to compete well right away. Her 2024 season was already tough before the Killington crash.

In January 2024, Mikaela Shiffrin fell during a downhill race and hurt her left knee. She sprained her MCL and her tibiofibular ligament.

The injury kept her out for weeks. She returned two months later but only had time to train for slalom races. Her giant slalom season was basically over.

Then came the second crash in November. This time, the damage went beyond her knee. It put her giant slalom ranking in danger and shook her confidence.

Now, just weeks before the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, Mikaela Shiffrin says she is finally feeling strong again. Her return is not only about medals. It is about beating the fear that once made her question everything.

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