Mikaela Shiffrin struggles to explain third DNF at Winter Olympics: 'I don’t understand what’s not working'

Mikaela Shiffrin says she cannot explain why she recorded a third DNF of the Winter Olympics as the American added combined heartbreak to her disappointment in the slalom and giant slalom. Looking to bounce back from her DNFs in the two individual events last week, Shiffrin — who finished the super-G in ninth and the downhill in 18th — was aiming to go past the sixth gate in the slalom segment of the combined event after placing fifth in the downhill on Sofia Goggia’s skis.

Ad/> The American did indeed make it past the sixth gate – as was her pre-race aim, she admitted before the slalom – but the two-time Olympic champion was down just seconds later to see the prospect of another gold medal slip away. Beijing 2022Shiffrin 'laying everything on the line' as Ledecka eyes historic double-double3 HOURS AGO Michelle Gisin went on to defend her Olympic crown, while Shiffrin was left evaluating another error on the ‘Ice River’ slope at the Yanqing National Alpine Ski Centre.

Shiffrin was relatively chipper when speaking to discovery+ afterwards, initially replying: “I’m okay, thank you for not asking what happened, is that your next question?” Then asked what is not working, she added: “That’s the question you want to know and it’s what I want to know too. I don’t really understand what’s not working on these races.

Especially today. ‘No words’ — Shiffrin records another DNF as Gisin defends combined crown Shiffrin loans Goggia’s skis and ‘almost cries’ at note left by Italian Shiffrin and Ledecka in combined contention as Scheyer leads after downhill “Even in the GS and slalom I felt maybe I had too high intensity, I was trying too hard, and I just didn’t get into my rhythm first.

“Today I was much more relaxed. Just ‘Hey it’s