Teammate challenges Shiffrin on way to silver
CORTINA D’AMP E ZZO, ITA LY » Even if it wasn’t gold, Mikaela Shiffrin’s 13th medal at a major championship felt different from all her previous ones.
For the first time in a technical race, she had an American teammate next to her competing for victory.
Shiffrin and Nina O’Brien had the two fastest times in the opening run of the women’s giant slalom at the world championships on Thursday.
Before the second run, they stood close on the hill inspecting the course. Shared a lift ride up the hill. And exchanged kind words before skiing down, one after the other.
It felt like an ordinary training session, rather than the decisive run for gold.
While O’Brien dropped to 10th, Shiffrin earned a silver medal behind Swiss winner Lara Gut-Behrami to give her one of each color at these worlds — and with her best event, slalom, still to come.
In total, Shiffrin now has 10 career world championship medals to go with three Olympic ones.
“I have never been in this position to look at my teammate when we’re both going down battling for a medal,” Shiffrin said. “The last two racers with a chance for a medal is always a special feeling but having your teammate there, it feels different. It’s really cool.”
For the U.S. ski team this was a first — but not a fluke.
In slalom and GS, it was all about Shiffrin for many years. But the whole tech team is having a breakout season on the World Cup circuit, with several personal bests for O’Brien, AJ Hurt, and Paula Moltzan, who even had her first career podium in Austria in November.
“I think it’s really cool and we are lucky to have Mikaela as our teammate for leading the charge and inspiring us all,” O’Brien said. “But it’s also fun to see that this next group of us can bring in some speed as well.”
While Shiffrin works with her own coaching staff, the team trains together when schedules allow. “It’s always super productive and valuable training with her, just watching her and talking with her about skiing,” O’Brien said.