Shiffrin and Johnson distinguished themselves in Saalbach, Austria, with a remarkable combined time of 2:40.89. This new team event at the world championships required one skier to tackle the downhill and another the slalom, with their times contributing to the final score. Shiffrin’s expertise in slalom and Johnson’s prowess in downhill skiing created a formidable partnership.
Breezy Johnson, 29, celebrated her second gold medal of the championships, having previously won the individual downhill title. Shiffrin, on the other hand, has chosen to withdraw from the upcoming giant slalom race due to lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a crash in Killington, Vermont, last year.
During the team combined event, Shiffrin posted the third-fastest time in slalom, marking a successful collaboration with her close friend Johnson. Shiffrin’s achievement of matching the overall world championships record, set by Germany’s Christl Cranz in the 1930s, represents a significant moment in her career. She expressed her excitement, stating, “This was an amazing day. For me up there, it was nerve-wracking because Breezy did her job just spectacularly this morning. It was so much fun to watch. All these days, day in and day out, she’s been executing.”
Shiffrin’s journey has been challenging. Following her crash, she experienced a puncture wound and muscle trauma, complicating her preparation for her 100th World Cup win. She has openly discussed her mental hurdles, describing the giant slalom as “an event that I loved so dearly only 2 months ago.”
The Swiss team, featuring Lara Gut-Behrami and Wendy Holdener, claimed silver, finishing just 0.39 seconds behind Shiffrin and Johnson. Meanwhile, Austria’s Stephanie Venier and Katharina Truppe secured the bronze position, trailing by 0.53 seconds. American athletes Lauren Macuga and Paula Moltzan narrowly missed a medal, although Macuga delivered the fastest downhill performance. Lindsey Vonn, who returned from retirement, completed the event in 21st place in the downhill, highlighting the competitive depth in the sport.
Tensions emerged before the event when Vonn removed a social media post expressing disappointment over not being paired with Shiffrin. She later acknowledged the competitive nature of the selection process. “Maybe I didn’t help myself or the team by having my Twitter fingers out,” Vonn admitted. “But at the same time, I’m a human being and I was disappointed in the communication.” American speed coach Alex Hödlmoser noted that pairing decisions were driven by performance metrics, with Breezy Johnson deemed the fastest competitor in the downhill event.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s 15th world championships medal underscores her enduring legacy in skiing. Her collaboration with Breezy Johnson in the team combined event highlights the dynamic nature of competitive sports and the strategic decisions that drive success. As Shiffrin continues to navigate her journey with resilience and determination, her achievements inspire both her peers and fans worldwide.
