Shiffrin feels only competitor that can beat her is herself

Mikaela Shiffrin is, without a doubt, the best women’s slalom skier in the world. She didn’t live up to that billing in Friday’s Olympic final after, as she put it, “puking before the first run” because of what she initially thought might be food poisoning or a virus but eventually decided was simply anxiousness. Shiffrin finished fourth behind winner Frida Hansdotter of Sweden, Swiss silver medallist Wendy Holdener and third-place Katharina Gallhuber of Austria. “Sometimes,” the 22-year-old Shiffrin said, “I feel like the only one who can beat myself in slalom is me. And I beat myself ... today.” That Shiffrin’s medal miss in slalom came one day after she won the giant slalom, an event at which she is not as good, was surprising but perhaps related. After attending the medal ceremony Thursday, Shiffrin said she didn’t get to bed until 10 p.m., much later than normal.