Mikaela Shiffrin recovering after abdominal surgery following crash in giant Slalom

Mikaela Shiffrin’s pursuit of her 100th World Cup victory was interrupted on November 30, 2024, during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont. Leading after the first run, Shiffrin was on pace to claim another historic win when disaster struck. On her second run, she lost an edge, slid into a gate, and flipped head over skis. After crashing into a second gate, she was taken down the mountain on a sled and transported for medical evaluation. The crash resulted in bruising and a deep puncture wound to Shiffrin’s hip area. Fortunately, no ligament or bone damage was detected, but the injury would require time to heal. Shiffrin, who has dominated the World Cup scene for over a decade, was forced to take a break from racing as she focused on her recovery. Shiffrin posted an update on Instagram on December 14, 2024, sharing details of her recovery process. After initially feeling under the weather, Shiffrin underwent abdominal surgery on Thursday night to clean out a deeper cavity in the wound, which had not been draining properly despite using a wound vacuum and normal packing. The surgery involved washing out the hematoma and closing the wound with sutures. In her post, Shiffrin explained the situation: “Turns out I had a little cavity deeper than the wound tract that was filled with old hematoma and wasn’t properly draining with wound vac or normal packing. So we went in to wash it out and close it with sutures.” She also expressed disappointment that she couldn't be at the finish line in Beaver Creek to cheer on her teammates, although she was still watching the race from home. Shiffrin’s surgery was unexpected, and while she is recovering well at her home in Edwards, Colorado, there is no set timeline for her return to the World Cup circuit. The 29-year-old athlete remains determined to get back on the slopes but is taking the necessary steps to ensure a full recovery. Her focus now is on healing properly and being ready for the next stage of her career. Despite the setback, Shiffrin’s remarkable career achievements have put her in a strong position for a return to form once she is healthy. She has already earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, a silver, and seven world championships, solidifying her place as one of the greatest Alpine ski racers of all time. Shiffrin’s record-breaking career continued to reach new heights in 2023 when she surpassed Lindsey Vonn's record for most World Cup wins by a female skier, with 82 victories. She later broke Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time World Cup win record, finishing with 87 victories that March. As she recovers from surgery, Shiffrin remains focused on her long-term goals, including her ambition to claim even more World Cup titles and further solidify her legacy in the sport. While her immediate future is uncertain, Shiffrin’s resilience and track record of overcoming adversity suggest she will return to the slopes even stronger. Mikaela Shiffrin’s unexpected surgery following a race crash has temporarily sidelined the Alpine skiing star, but she remains committed to making a full recovery. With no timetable set for her return to competition, Shiffrin’s focus is on her health, and her fans will undoubtedly be eager to see her back on the podium when she’s ready.