Simone Biles defends Winter Olympic star Mikaela Shiffrin after skier’s shock slalom exit

Gymnastics icon Simone Biles has tweeted her support for compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin, who skied herself out of medal contention for the second event in a row at this year’s Winter Olympics. 

Two-time gold medallist Shiffrin failed to finish the women’s slalom today and has now questioned her future at the Beijing Games. 

The 26-year-old is one of the most decorated alpine skiers ever and holds multiple records. 

Shiffrin is a three-time World Cup champion and the youngest slalom gold medal winner in Olympic skiing history, having won gold in Sochi, aged just 18.

She is also the first athlete, male or female, with wins in all six FIS Alpine Ski World Cup disciplines and has won 73 World Cup races –– the second-most of all-time. 

The American was understandably tipped as one of America’s most likely medal hopefuls leading into this year’s Games, but so far the US star has uncharacteristically struggled to make her mark. 

Two days ago, Shiffrin suffered a shock exit from the giant slalom and made another mistake in today’s women’s slalom, with her rivals capitalising on her misfortune. 

The skiing sensation had come to Beijing planning to race in all five individual alpine events, yet her best two chances of a medal have now seemingly gone. 

“I have never been in this position before and I don’t know how to handle it,” Shiffrin admitted after today’s early exit. 

“I’m pretty much processing everything. It makes me second guess everything over the last 15 years. Everything I thought I knew about my own skiing and slalom and racing mentality. I’m just processing a lot. I feel really bad.”

“If I am going to ski out on the fifth gate, what’s the point? I will try to reset again. Maybe try to reset better this time but I also