Though not necessarily in the manner she expected, U.S. Olympic alpine slalom skier Michaela Shiffrin is now the face of American women’s skiing after icon of the sport Lindsey Vonn was ruled out of the Sochi games due to injury. Do not be so quick as to call Shiffrin “the next Vonn”, though, as the rising star is adamant about carving her own path to the Olympic podium. At only 18 years of age, Mikaela Shiffrin has plenty of time to pen her own tale in the book of skiing legend, and has had no problem already executing the beginning chapters. Shiffrin is the youngest American to win a World Cup Title in any discipline as well as the youngest slalom World Champion in the history of the United States of America.
In her spare time, Shiffrin enjoys playing pick up games of tennis and soccer to take her mind off the stresses of being a professional skier. For the next month, however, her mind and body are set on Sochi, where she aims to take home her first Olympic medal.
Check the Sochi schedule to follow Mikaela and the rest of the U.S. Olympic skiers.
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Career Highlights (via usskiteam.com):
World Championships
- Gold, SL, Schladming, AUT, 2013
- 6th, GS, Schladming, AUT, 2013
World Cup
- SL title, 2013 at 18 years old.
- Four SL victories, six podiums, 2013
- First World Cup podium with SL 3rd in Lienz, AUT at age 16, 2012
- Finished 17th in SL standings in rookie season, 2012
- Made World Cup debut at 15-years-old, 2011
U.S. Championship Titles
- 2012, SL, Winter Park, CO
- 2011, SL Winter Park, CO
Other
- 2013 Longines Rising Star
- 2012 World Cup Rookie of the Year
- Two-time ESWA Golden Ski Award winner 2011-2012
- Three-time Ski Racing Magazine Junior of the Year 2011-2013
- 2011 Junior World Championships bronze in SL
- 2011 NorAm SL champion
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