Mikaela Shiffrin is out of the giant slalom at the Beijing Winter Olympics after slipping and missing a gate five turns into Saturday’s race.
Her “DNF” (Did Not Finish) was Shiffrin’s first since 2018 and first in 30 Giant Slalom competitions. The 26-year-old attacked the top of the course before losing her edge, falling to her side on the steep Ice River technical course at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center.
"I'm sorry that that was the performance I did today but that also happens."
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Mikaela Shiffrin reacts to her giant slalom race.
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“I’m sorry that that was the performance I did today, but that also happens,” said Shiffrin after the race. “I won’t hide the disappointment, but I’m also not going to dwell on that because that’s not going to help at all.”
Saturday’s spill spoils Shiffrin’s hopes of competing in all five alpine events, with the American skier eliminated from the second leg of the giant slalom. Shiffrin, however, can still make history as the first American to own three Olympic skiing gold medals, with the slalom event scheduled for Wednesday.
The Team USA star previously took home gold in the slalom in Sochi and the giant slalom in PyeongChang.