Shiffrin delayed yet again

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — The start of Mikaela Shiffrin’s bid for multiple medals at the 2018 Olympics was delayed yet again when the women’s slalom was postponed from Wednesday to Friday because of strong winds. It’s the third time in four days an Alpine skiing race was shelved because gusts made it too dangerous for competition. Shiffrin originally was supposed to get started with the giant slalom on Monday; that race was rescheduled for Thursday and will now be her first at these Winter Games. Weather permitting, that is. The men’s downhill, which was supposed to open the 11-event Alpine program on Sunday, also was shifted to Thursday, when the forecast calls for a lessening of the swirling and blustery wind that has been creating problems.

Now Friday will also be a double-competition day, with Shiffrin attempting to defend her 2014 gold medal in the slalom, which will be held at the Yongpyong Alpine Center that hosts technical races, while the men compete in the super-G at the Jeongseon Alpine Center speed hill about 30 miles away.

That super-G was originally scheduled for Thursday but was pushed to Friday once the men’s downhill was moved. Snow was falling and wind blowing this way and that at Yongpyong on Wednesday.

The slalom is a race Shiffrin has dominated for five years, including her Olympic gold as a teenager and three consecutive world titles.