Nina O'Brien crash: 'Heartbroken' Mikaela Shiffrin 'crossing her fingers' after friend's horror incident

Mikaela Shiffrin says she is “heartbroken” for American team-mate Nina O’Brien after she suffered a horror crash in the women’s giant slalom at Beijing 2022. O’Brien was stretchered off the slope after a dramatic collision with the final gate, which sent her tumbling across the finish line. images suggested that O'Brien may have suffered a terrible injury, although there has been no confirmation as yet from her team.

Ad/> Shiffrin’s title defence evaporated almost instantly as she crashed out after just five gates in the first run – but her immediate concern was for O’Brien. Beijing 2022Sweden's Hector takes giant slalom gold, after O'Brien crash causes delay6 HOURS AGO “Today was one of the most turbulent days I have ever experienced,” Shiffrin said on social media. “We’re so heartbroken for Nina O’Brien… she showed so much heart and fire in her skiing today, and it all got shredded to pieces on the final turn.

This sport… this sport is so damn hard. “It’s brutal, and it hurts – far more often that it ever feels good. [Fellow American skier] Paula Moltzan kept saying in the finish – ‘it’s not fair.

That can’t have just happened. It’s not fair.’ And she’s right. It’s just so not even close to fair.