Symbol of her comeback, the three-time winner of the general classification (from 2017 to 2019) won over the opening giant of Sölden (Austria) at the end of October.

She found in Finland the tight poles of the slalom, her favorite discipline.

"What she experienced, the death of her father (in a domestic accident in February 2020) changed her forever," her trainer Mike Day told AFP.

"But Sölden showed this flame that we had not seen since his race in Bansko (super-G victory on January 26, 2020) just before the tragedy," he said.

"In the fog"

Last winter, the American finished 4th in the overall World Cup standings with three victories (no globe) focusing on technical events, convincing results but far from the appalling statistics she was posting before 2020.

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin during the Giant Slalom in Soelden, Austria, October 23, 2021 Joe Klamar AFP / Archives

“She lived last season in a fog. She struggled with simple things, like memorizing the tracks. Sometimes she was in the middle of a slalom run without remembering what happened next. has reworked all this, she has consulted coaches outside the world of ski racing. Sölden shows how far she has come, "said her American coach, who is starting a 6th season of collaboration with the skier.

"She was not ready for last winter, we had been able to train a lot less than usual. This summer was not necessarily easy, but we worked a lot more. We learned not to strain. things, to be patient, to give it air. Finding a champion's state of mind cannot be ordered. "

"A bet"

At just 26 years old, Shiffrin clinched the 70th victory of his career on the circuit in Austria, approaching two legends Ingemar Stenmark (86) and Lindsey Vonn (82).

But she experienced back problems after the giant that prevented her from training for a while.

"I did 15% of the slalom sessions scheduled between October 29 and November 14, it's not ideal but I recently felt good in training, I arrive here in good condition and the worst muscle spasm is behind me, ”she assured during a press briefing.

In Finland, where she has already won four times, she faces formidable competition from Austrian world champion Katharina Liensberger and Slovakian Petra Vlhova, winner of the Big Globe in the spring.

She will then return to North America for the stages of Killington (United States) then Lake Louise (Canada) in early December, where she will return to the speed races in the World Cup, almost two years after Bansko.

But not having the intention of running every weekend, it will continue to select its competitions, with dead ends in speed.

"Skiing is capable of emptying you completely, of pumping all your energy, so we said to ourselves that I didn't have to run all the races, even if I intend to run in all the disciplines. It's also for maintain my mental and physical health, focus on quality over quantity. It's always a gamble. If I don't compete in this race, I maximize my chances of skiing better the next one. It hasn't been easy to take this step back. We looked for a way to keep the passion intact throughout the season, "she said.

Levi's Women's World Cup schedule:

- Saturday November 20: 1st slalom, 1st round at 10:30 am, 2nd at 1:30 pm

- Sunday November 21: 2nd slalom, 1st round at 10:30 am, 2nd at 1:30 pm

© 2021 AFP