To outsiders, Wednesday morning's news from the US national team came as a bolt from the blue.
So also for parts of the American squad.
- It's a shock to me, says Alpine manager Patrick Riml to the AP news agency.
A seven-year and mostly successful partnership broke up the day before the giant slalom in Méribel, Shiffrin's next attempt at another World Cup medal, a 13th in that case.
Can touch Pärson
If she wins the gold, she will touch Austrian Toni Sailer, French Marielle Goitschel and Anja Pärson's record of seven individual WC golds.
In addition, Shiffrin is the big favorite in Saturday's slalom.
"After working with Mike Day for seven seasons, I have decided to move forward with a new coaching staff for the next phase of my career," Shiffrin said in a statement via the US National Team.
- Mikaela wants to do something different to get ahead, she wants a new challenge.
She informed Mike and Mike decided to go home.
It is a shock to me that he went home, says Patrick Riml to AP.
Paul Kristofic is the women's coach for the US team.
"We have a lot of people here to support Mikaela to give her what she needs in competition," says Kristofic.
On the plane home
Mike Day was with Shiffrin when she won the silver medal in the super-G last week.
- He then accompanied the skier for a few days of training in Orcières before returning to Méribel with her this week.
He left here yesterday.
He is probably on the plane home now, says Patrick Riml to AP.
Shiffrin has dominated the Women's World Cup this winter and is clearly leading ahead of the final competitions after the WC.
With 85 career victories, she is just one away from tying Ingemar Stenmark's long-lived record of 86.
During the season, she also passed Lindsey Vonn's record on the women's side with 82 victories.