Former Olympic medalists Lindsey Vonn and Picabo Street believe their compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin could win an award in all starts at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics next month.
Mikaela Shiffrin, who won gold in the Sochi slalom in 2014 and in the giant slalom in Pyeongchang four years later, said she hopes to take part in all five individual starts, although it is unclear whether this will happen. This could be risky, especially if the weather affects the program of alpine skiing competitions. Four years ago, Mikaela Shiffrin withdrew from the super-giant slalom and the descent precisely because of the busy schedule.
Lindsey Vonn, who has competed in four Olympics during her career and is the most successful American in the World Cup with 82 victories, believes that Mikaela Shiffrin is able to finish in the top three in every competition in which she participates.
“I really expect him to take a medal from every start сhe takes part in, because сhe certainly has the ability to achieve it, and that’s a compliment”, said Lindsey Vonn.
The 26-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin, who has 73 World Cup starts, has also recorded two podiums in the super-giant slalom this season.
The winner of the most medals in an Olympics is Croatia’s Janica Kostelic, who won four, including three gold, in Salt Lake City in 2002.
Recently, Mikaela Shiffrin’s physical condition was affected by a positive test for COVID-19 and the death of her father in 2020. The American leads the provisional World Cup standings over Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova.
“I think she’s doing extremely well. She may not be as consistent this year, but that’s to be expected given the tragedy she’s going through. I think they’re expecting great Olympics”, said Lindsey Vonn.
Picabo Street, who is Nagano gold medalist in 1998 and a silver medalist in Lillehammer four years earlier, believes Mikaela Shiffrin will not be distracted by anything.
“I believe she will start her participation in the Games with the thought that she has everything she needs, whatever comes her way”, said Picabo Street. “There’s no better challenge for her. Someone like her can win all five medals, right? That’s the level she has. That’s the good thing about the Olympics. I think we’ll see some athletes do exceptional things”, added she.
Mikaela Shiffrin started her participation on February 7 with the giant slalom, and the first start in the alpine skiing of the Games was the men’s downhill the day before.
