(Killington) Even in the area reserved for competitors, a few of them took out their phones to immortalize the moment on Saturday afternoon. The one where Mikaela Shiffrin would once again make history by winning her 100e victory in the World Cup.
Posted at 2:32 p.m.
Updated at 5:48 p.m.
His destiny was all mapped out. Five more doors, and that was it. Author of the best time in the first round, and therefore last to start the second, the American skier was still ahead when she reached the top of the final wall of the Killington Superstar slope. Seeing it in real life rather than on the giant screen, the approximately 15,000 spectators roared in unison, heated by the excellent performances of the other Americans who had come down earlier. It wasn’t in the bag yet, but almost.
However Shiffrin, who had a priority of 17 hundredths over the Swede Sara Hector, had an initial imbalance. Two turns later, she fell sideways, as if unable to correct the trajectory of her inside ski. She hit one door, tumbling towards another, before sliding into the safety net deployed at the edge of the track. She appears to have hit her head violently. In a split second, the expected celebration turned into uneasy silence.
In the finish area, Olympic champion Hector (1:53:08) held back her joy, as much as possible, at obtaining the sixth victory of her career in the World Cup. Same reaction for the Croatian Zrinka Ljutic (+0.54 s) and the Swiss Camille Rast (+1.05 s), respectively second and third, their first giant podium.
PHOTO ROBERT F. BUKATY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sara Hector
“It’s really strange what happened,” commented Valérie Grenier, interviewed live while the rescuers were busy around Shiffrin.
“It was horrible, we didn’t like seeing that so much,” added the skier from Mont-Tremblant, ninth for her return to competition after an absence of 10 months.
“It was exciting to see if maybe she was going to win today or tomorrow. We agree that the crowd is mainly here for her, to see this [la 100e]. It’s really sad. I hope she’s correct because it wasn’t a nice fall. »
On the microphone, Hector expressed the collective feeling that reigned at that moment: “It’s so sad to see Mikaela fall like that when she was skiing so well. It breaks my heart and the hearts of everyone here. »
While the podium ceremony took place below, Shiffrin remained lying there for a good twenty minutes. After being lifted onto a stretcher, however, she waved as the patrolmen lowered her to the applause of the public, who saw her pass to the side.
Two hours later, Shiffrin delivered reassuring news in a short video posted to her Instagram page. Lying in a bed at a medical center, she said imaging tests had revealed nothing so far. However, she showed a large wound located on her lower abdomen.
“There’s no real reason to worry at the moment, I just can’t move,” she explained with a smile. I have a pretty big abrasion, something stung under my fingers. […] I’m sorry for scaring everyone. »
She congratulated her compatriots Paula Moltzan (5e), Nina O’Brien (6e) et Elisabeth Bocock (23e), all of whom achieved personal bests. The American team confirmed that Shiffrin would not line up for the slalom on Sunday.
PHOTO ROBERT F. BUKATY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mikaela Shiffrin hoped to win a 100e World Cup victory in Killington, Vermont.
Schiffrin in control during the first round, Grenier finishes 9th
Shiffrin seemed totally in control after setting the best time on the first track, 32 hundredths ahead of Hector.
“I feel good,” said the 29-year-old athlete, particularly relaxed. I’m happy to be here. I think it’s an incredible opportunity. Racing in front of this crowd is always a real pleasure, and I feel like I have a good plan for my skiing. So I’ll be nervous for the second run, just like I was for the first. For now, I just feel good. We’ll analyze the video and start again. »
The double Olympic champion, however, wondered about the possible presence of “rocks which would rise to the surface” and which could have caused problems for several competitors, including the New Zealander Alice Robinson (off the track) and the Italian Marta Bassino (36e and unqualified).
They seem to be going well and all of a sudden their skis are slipping even though the conditions are really good. I don’t think it’s a problem of lack of grip, but rather that when you hit a stone you lose grip and then it’s over. Some had to stop and maybe that’s the problem.
Mikaela Shiffrin
During the reconnaissance ahead of the second round, Grenier also noticed Shiffrin pecking at the surface with his stick.
“She was scratching on the ground and it looked like small rocks,” said the Franco-Ontarian. It was hard to tell if it was or not. It was like dark stuff. It’s true that the feeling was still strange, with inconsistency from one door to another. »
Half fig half grape after an initial round where she had difficulty controlling her nervousness as bib 1, a first for her in the World Cup, Valérie Grenier drew a very positive assessment of her first competition since the 28 January. She then broke her arm and defeated her knee in a high-speed fall at the super-G in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“I had just told myself that I would be extremely happy with a top 10 for my comeback race! » smiled the 28-year-old Canadian.
At the time, she found herself “really bad” for having given up 1.82 seconds to Shiffrin, who followed her into the gate in the first round. Seeing that the gaps were significant for several other competitors, she began the re-run with more confidence.
“For the second, I was certainly less nervous, more serene. I knew I had less to worry about. […] I was just ready to attack. I felt more comfortable on the course. I made a few small errors in the pitchwhere it was a bit messy, but it was generally good skiing. »
With a cumulative time of 1 min 55.62, she finished tied for ninth place with young Italian-Albanian prodigy Lara Colturi, 18 years old. The 2.54 sec delay compared to the winner gives him the measure of the work that remains to be accomplished.
“It will be important to continue to work on the endurance of my legs and my knee, which I felt a little at the end,” explained Grenier, who was fifth in the giant’s rankings at the time of his injury.
“I just need a little more time on my skis, a little more consistency. Because it’s only recently that I feel good and I don’t have any pain. I didn’t have the chance to line up a lot of descents one after the other and gain confidence. »
Britt Richardson, the other Canadian qualified for the second round, finished 27e at 7.19 sec. The 21-year-old Albertan had a good descent until she made a fatal mistake in the final schuss. However, she fought to reach the finish. “I never like to give up,” she explained. In my head, I was going to do anything to get to the next door. I lost two or three seconds with this mistake, but crossing the line and giving everything I had is essential. »
In shock to learn of the cancellation of the Tremblant World Cup, scheduled for next weekend, Grenier was starting to get used to the idea. The weather conditions did not allow for sufficient snowfall.
“It really saddens me because these are the races I look forward to the most during the year,” explained the representative of the local club. I don’t know how to feel and I don’t know yet what the plan is for next. »
For now, Grenier plans to prepare for the two super-Gs in St. Moritz, scheduled before Christmas.
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