Jan. 18--The brief message that Mikaela Shiffrin posted on social media says it all.
"Dear skiing," she wrote, "I miss you."
The American slalom star hurt her knee in a warm-up crash last month and thought she had suffered only bruising and a ligament tear until recent tests found a fracture.
The additional injury could keep her out of action on the World Cup circuit until early March.
"Due to the small fracture she had, she will go on the safe side and let that heal fully before going on snow," her agent told NBCSports.com on Monday.
Barring an unexpected development, the world champion and Olympic gold medalist will not be able to win her fourth-consecutive World Cup slalom title.
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"That's all for now," Shiffrin wrote. "PS. Be back soon."
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