Mikaela Shiffrin’s season reads like a blockbuster: a terrifying crash, mental battles, and then a triumphant return — all capped by a milestone victory that left fans both in awe and tearfully inspired.
🩹 The Crash That Nearly Ended It
On November 30, 2024, Shiffrin’s pursuit of her 100th World Cup win turned harrowing. In a giant slalom race at Killington, Vermont, she lost control and crashed, suffering an abdominal puncture wound and severe trauma to her oblique muscles. For weeks, she couldn’t even laugh or sneeze without pain
The physical recovery was immensely tough. But the mental toll — fears, flashbacks, uncertainty — may have tested her more. She has since opened up about battling PTSD, admitting that parts of her felt broken, even when her body was healing.
🏃♀️ A Return Steeped in Grit
Shiffrin reentered the alpine circuit on January 30, 2025, at a night slalom in Courchevel. Though she placed 10th, that finish felt less like a placing and more like a defiant first step.
She skipped downhill events entirely as she retrained her body and mindset, choosing to focus on slalom and giant slalom, where her legacy is strongest.
Her confidence has slowly regained momentum. “I feel more comfortable in general,” she confessed in recent interviews — not fully healed, but steadily on the mend.
🏆 Win No. 101 — The Redemption
Against all odds, Shiffrin closed out her season with a statement. At the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, she won the slalom — marking her 101st career World Cup victory. She crushed doubts, pain, and uncertainty in one brilliant run.
Earlier in the season, she also notched her 100th win in Sestriere — a moment made sweeter knowing how much ground she’d come through.
Her Sun Valley win was more than a number — it represented survival, resilience, and the reclaiming of her story.
🌟 What This Season Taught Us
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Mental scars matter — She’s shown that strength isn’t just physical.
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Legends evolve — She’s skied through fear, placed herself in recovery, and still came out winning.
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Legacy beyond wins — She joined the ownership group for Denver’s new NWSL team, expanding her fight beyond skiing.
