Mikaela Shiffrin misses gate on first run of slalom, out of second consecutive race at Beijing Olympics

Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic struggles continued Wednesday with another shocking early exit in the first run of the slalom race.

Just two days after crashing 11 seconds into the first run of the giant slalom race — in which she was the defending gold medalist — the 26-year-old American recorded another «Did Not Finish,» having missed a gate after mere seconds on the course.

Shiffrin, the favorite in the slalom event, sat alone on the side of the course for several minutes after the disqualification.

She had arrived in Beijing as one of the faces of the Games and with multi-medal expectations. She is seeking her fourth Olympic medal, and third gold, and will have her next opportunity to claim it Friday in the super-G competition.