Olympics-Alpine skiing-Shiffrin may skip super-G race

By Simon Evans

YANQING, China (Reuters) -American Mikaela Shiffrin is considering skipping Friday's super-G race at the Beijing Olympics after she failed to finish in either the slalom or giant slalom -- her two favoured races.

A spokeswoman for the U.S team told reporters that Shiffrin will decide before Thursday's team captain's meeting whether or not she will take part in the race.

"Mikaela will be skiing today, and based on how today goes she will make a decision for super-G. This is common for Mikaela, as she goes day by day with her program since she skis in every event," the spokeswoman said, noting this was rare on the circuit."

"The team captain's meeting is at 5 (pm local time). She will make the decision by then."

Shiffrin, a three-time overall Alpine skiing World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medallist, cut a distraught figure after skiing out of the slalom on Wednesday just seconds into her run.

The 26-year-old crouched at the side of the course staring at the piste and the gate she missed which ended her challenge in the event in which she won gold in Sochi in 2014.

She fought back tears as she dealt with media interviews but was unclear when asked if she would be taking part in the upcoming speed races.

"Yeah. I mean, no," she said, "I will try to reset again. Maybe try to reset better this time.

"But I also don't know how to do it better because... I just don't. I've never been in this position before and I don't know how to handle it," she said.

The U.S team had talked of Shiffrin taking part in all events in the Games and she remains one of the favourites for the combined event which includes a slalom and a downhill run.

Shiffrin is a slalom and giant slalom specialist but she has won five super-G