Richard Parks Mikaela Shiffrin has changed her plans for the 2025 Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The American skier has decided to withdraw from the giant slalom. Instead, she will compete in the team event with downhill world champion Breezy Johnson. Lindsey Vonn, who recently made a competitive return, will not be in the team.
Shiffrin Withdraws from Giant Slalom
“I won’t be competing in the giant slalom world championships. I worked hard to prepare, hoping to compete on Thursday in Saalbach,” Shiffrin shared on Instagram. She explained that she’s dealing with the mental aftermath of a serious crash in Killington that needed surgery. Shiffrin is also facing psychological challenges and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“It was hard to realize that I now fear a sport I loved just two months ago,” she said. Despite this, Shiffrin chose to focus on the team event instead.
Shiffrin Teams Up with Breezy Johnson for a New Path
Shiffrin will debut at the championships on Tuesday (starting at 10:00 a.m. live ticker). She won’t be with Vonn, but with Breezy Johnson. Johnson, the downhill world champion, asked Shiffrin to join her in the team event to chase gold for Team USA.
“I’m honored to compete with Breezy,” Shiffrin said. “We’ve known each other for a long time.” However, Johnson is still a controversial figure. She accepted a 14-month doping suspension last year, which was applied retroactively from October 2023. This allowed her to compete in Saalbach.
Vonn’s Reaction and German Team Criticism
Lindsey Vonn had hoped to team up with Shiffrin. But Shiffrin first turned down the idea before changing her mind. Meanwhile, the German speed team, led by Romed Baumann, has faced heavy criticism for poor performances. Their head coach didn’t hold back, calling their efforts “really poor.”