COURCHEVEL, France — Sixty days ago, the world’s most decorated Alpine skier lay in a hospital bed, sidelined by a freak accident on home soil. Today, Mikaela Shiffrin is not just standing; she is back on the hunt for history.
On January 30, 2025, exactly two months after a terrifying abdominal puncture during a World Cup giant slalom in Killington, Vermont, Shiffrin will make her competitive return in a night slalom here in Courchevel. The race serves as her final litmus test before the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, and marks the end of a rehabilitation process she describes as one of the most physically and mentally taxing of her storied career.
The Invisible Injury
While Alpine skiing is often associated with broken bones and torn ligaments, Shiffrin’s injury was an anomaly: a deep puncture wound that penetrated three layers of muscle. The recovery required more than just healing skin; it necessitated “re-learning” how to activate her core.
“I could literally feel a gap between a section of my muscle for the first couple weeks,” Shiffrin revealed in an interview with Ski Racing Media. The trauma was so severe that early in her rehab, simple movements left her unable to remain upright. “Our focus was twofold: wound healing to prevent infection and restoring muscle function. Even minor use of my core in those early days felt impossible.”
The severity of the injury was compounded by internal swelling, which prevented her from consuming the high-protein diet necessary for muscle regrowth. “I literally couldn’t fit enough food in my stomach,” she admitted.
A Bittersweet Comeback
Shiffrin’s return coincides with a somber milestone for her greatest rival, Petra Vlhová. As Shiffrin prepares for the World Championships, Vlhová officially announced she will miss the event due to setbacks from a knee surgery following her own crash in Jasná, Slovakia, a year ago.
The rivalry, often dubbed the “Sincaraz” of the snow, has defined the last decade of women’s slalom. Shiffrin, who has amassed an unprecedented 105 World Cup wins and 156 podiums (as of December 2025), expressed deep empathy for her competitor’s absence.
“I really miss her at the races… we all do,” Shiffrin said. “I miss the battles, but also just watching her ski. My greatest hope is that she takes the time she needs to return strong. She has always been relentless, and I respect that so much.”
Chasing 100 and Beyond
Before her injury, Shiffrin had already cemented her status as the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All Time) of Alpine skiing. Having eclipsed Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 wins in 2023, she reached the historic 100-win milestone in Sestriere, Italy, in February 2024.
As she heads into the Saalbach World Championships, Shiffrin remains cautious but determined. While she is confirmed for the slalom on February 15, her participation in the giant slalom the day prior remains a “game-time decision” based on her scarring and muscle tightness.
For Shiffrin, the return to the start gate is more than a race for a medal—it is a victory over a 60-day ordeal that threatened to derail the most dominant era in skiing history.