Mikaela Shiffrin to snub media duties for 'foreseeable future' after early exits at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Mikaela Shiffrin will not conduct media duties for the «foreseeable future» after a difficult start to the Beijing Olympics. The American great unexpectedly crashed out of the women’s giant slalom after missing a gate, then suffered the same fate in the slalom two days later.

Ad/> The two-time Olympic champion suggested she might quit the Games after the shock exits, admitting “I don’t know how to handle it”, but it has since been confirmed that she will race in Friday's super-G. Beijing 2022Alpine favourite Pinturault 'disappointed' with downhill time in Beijing5 HOURS AGO Shiffrin broke down in an interview with NBC after her second early exit in Beijing and, according to a text message sent to Reuters, will not be interviewed for the remainder of the Games.

«Mikaela (nor her mother/coach Eileen) will not be doing any media for the foreseeable future,” a spokesperson said in a text message reported by Reuters. “Thank you for respecting her/their space right now.» Opinion: Mikaela Shiffrin has no one to apologise to Biles and Vonn show support for Shiffrin after another tough moment A spotlight has been fixed on mental health in sport after tennis star Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May after being threatened with expulsion over a press boycott.

Osaka cited mental health reasons for her decision and said expecting athletes to answer questions after poor results was akin to «kicking a person while they're down». Gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of four individual Olympic finals at the Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health after suffering from the so-called ‘twisties’.