Shiffrin has won the overall World Cup over the past three years and the Slalom Cup six times in seven years. But this year, the 25-year-old was left without crystal globes. Federica Brignone, Italy, won the total and Petra Vlhova, Slovakia, won the slalom cup.

The reason is that Shiffrin missed competitions when she returned to Colorado when her father suffered an accident, and then passed away. Then came the corona pandemic and ended the season prematurely.

- It is something that has been almost impossible to understand. The brain has not been able to absorb everything, it has become too much to process, says Shiffrin in an interview from home in Edwards, Colorado.

Her father Jeff worked as an anesthetist, but also had an important role in his daughter's life.

- He was the CEO of skier Mikaela Shiffrin, she says, adding that he was in charge of the economy and worked with her agent daily.

Now he is with her in mind to process the grief and energy to continue.

- We need positivity right now, I need positivity right now. My dad used to say that when you smile, chemical substances are released in the brain that make you happy. So sometimes when you're down you get "fake it til you make it".

She tries to keep her mood up by working out at home gym, singing, playing guitar and dancing.

Shiffrin has also used the spring to engage more in charity. Among other things, she has written a song as part of a project where you donate ski goggles to the healthcare system. She says that the charity projects keep her anchored to reality and make her grateful.

- I hear stories that are very upsetting but also very inspiring, she says.

- And it's not only that I do good things, which of course feels good, but it also helps me to have the right perspective on things. Like, "it could be worse."

ARCHIVE: Skrällen - Shiffrin is beaten by 17-year-old Alice Robinson in the premiere (26 Oct 2019):

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