After a challenging recovery from a downhill crash earlier this year, American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin is poised to make her comeback this weekend in Sweden. While her participation in both World Cup races at the resort in Are remains uncertain, Shiffrin's team has indicated that she is progressing well in slalom and may compete in that event.
The upcoming weekend's action kicks off with a giant slalom on Saturday, followed by a slalom race on Sunday. Shiffrin, known for her record 95 World Cup wins, has been sidelined since sustaining injuries to her left knee in January.
Currently sitting in third place in the overall standings with 1,209 points, Shiffrin faces stiff competition from Lara Gut-Behrami and Federica Brignone, who lead the rankings. In the giant slalom discipline, Shiffrin is no longer in contention for the small crystal globe, trailing Gut-Behrami by 256 points.
Despite these challenges, Shiffrin maintains her lead in the slalom standings with 630 points, ahead of Petra Vlhova and Lena Duerr. With Vlhova out for the season due to injury, Duerr is the sole skier capable of overtaking Shiffrin in the slalom rankings.
Shiffrin needs just 12 points to secure the slalom globe, making her title defense within reach. The upcoming races in Are will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the season, with only two more weekends of competition remaining before the finals in Saalbach, Austria.
As fans eagerly await Shiffrin's return to the slopes, her resilience and determination continue to inspire athletes and spectators alike in the world of alpine skiing.
