Shiffrin captures gold, thanks former coach

Mikaela Shiffrin covered her mouth with her fluorescent orange mittens and collapsed to the snow, breathing heavily as her body pulsated from the exertion of her gold medal-winning run.

What a relief after a hectic week for the American skier. Having endured a small protest aimed at her by environmentalists who mistakenly thought she was using a helicopter for training, Shiffrin’s team was thrown into disarray two days before the giant slalom at the world championships when her longtime coach, Mike Day, left suddenly when Shiffrin told him she wanted to change her staff at the end of the season.

“It’s been definitely some high levels of stress these days,” Shiffrin said. “It was very, very difficult today to keep the focus and keep the intensity on the right level.”

Day coached Shiffrin since 2016 and was with her for 65 of her 85 World Cup wins. Shiffrin needs one more win to match Ingemar Stenmark’s overall record of 86, having already broken Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 wins. While wins at worlds don’t count toward the World Cup totals, that was the last thing on Shiffrin’s mind Thursday.

“One thing I really want to say is just, ‘Thank you,’ to Mike for seven years of — I can’t even say helping me — he’s been such an integral part of my team and being there to support me through some of the most incredible moments in my career and some of the most challenging moments of my career and also my life,” Shiffrin said, her voice cracking with emotion.

MLB: Left-hander Matt Moore and the Angels agreed Thursday to a one-year, $7.55 million contract.

NBA: The Celtics named Joe Mazzulla their fulltime head coach on Thursday, removing the interim tag he has held throughout the season after stepping in for Ime Udoka.

NHL: The Red Wings signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a two-year, $6 million extension.