The sun shines after the blizzard in the Tofane, mountains of the Dolomites in which , and , the other great American legend of alpine skiing, a discipline in which he has 108 victories in the World Cup, more than any other athlete, man or woman, finally smiles after winning another Olympic gold, the third of his career, this time in the individual slalom. About to turn 31, the woman from Colorado knew she was the favorite in the slalom, her last chance at a medal in an Olympic Games in which she had already wasted two bullets: first, with Breezy Johnson in the team slalom, where she finished six hundredths behind the bronze; and just a few days later, in the giant, where she finished eleventh, far from Federica Brignone’s gold that was also hers in Pieonchang 2018.
“I don’t want to make excuses. I was prepared and the day didn’t work out for me, so if I want to improve I will have to learn from my mistakes,” said Shiffrin, always as respectful as she was concerned about leaving a mark that transcends simple results. “Being here is already a privilege,” he explains from the top of the Alps; “But what really interests me is competing representing my values, that is, being kind to people and always trying to promote inclusion, diversity and gender equality in this sport.”
In 2023, who was already considered the best skier of all time broke ties with Mike Day, the coach who had accompanied her for the last seven years. In her place he hired a woman, Karin Harjo. “I know his capabilities well, but I not only want him to lead my staff for that, but for her condition as a woman. “Warned Shiffrin. Three years later, Harjo not only continues to be at his side as head coach, but has just become the first woman to design an alpine ski course in the history of the Olympic Games, as she traced the sinuous turns of the giant that crowned the Italian Brignone last Sunday.
“Women deserve to be valued in the same way as men,” summarizes Shiffrin, who two years before signing Harjo, in 2021, had refused to attend the medal ceremony for the World Cup in which she had won gold, precisely in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The North American press then spoke of a “princess whim,” slamming the Vail (Colorado) press for its disdain. Shortly afterwards it was learned that Shiffrin’s gesture had been a gesture of rebellion, as the act had been delayed several hours so as not to interfere with the development of the male super-G.
In the Tofane slalom, Shiffrin closed the first round this morning with the best time (47s13), eight tenths faster than the German Lena Dürr and a second better than the Swedish Cornelia Öhlund, who is only 20 years old. The San Sebastian native and current champion of Spain could not finish among the top 30 and guarantee her presence in the second and final round, who, with a time of 51s19, made her debut this Wednesday in the Olympic Games with a notable 39th position, ahead of 45 other competitors and just one second off the classification.
[NOTICIA EN AMPLIACIÓN]
