Mikaela Shiffrin will not race during this weekend's World Cup in Soldeu, Andorra as she needs more time to recover from the knee injury she sustained during a downhill race two weeks ago in Italy, the American skier said on Wednesday.

Shiffrin, owner of a record 95 World Cup wins, was airlifted away following a high-speed crash on the same piste that will be home to the women's downhill at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and said her knee cannot handle the load of racing just yet.

"I just need a bit more time to heal and re-condition," Shiffrin wrote in an Instagram post.

"As I've mentioned, there was no major ligament damage and the structure within the joint of my knee looks good."

The 28-year-old Shiffrin said she is managing a medial collateral ligament sprain, a sprain of the tibial-fibular ligaments, as well as a bone bruise from earlier in the season.

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"I took a ton of stress to my whole leg when I crashed and stretched a bunch of things that are continuing to cause pain, although that is improving every day!" Shiffrin wrote.

"The fact that everything is structurally intact is super positive, but I still need to be patient... I am in this for the long haul and want to ensure my knee is strong and I am fully capable of powerful skiing when I return to the start gate."

Shiffrin also supported longtime partner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's call for better World Cup race-day schedules to help protect athletes from injuries.

Norwegian skier Kilde, who suffered a horrific crash during a World Cup race on the Lauberhorn course in Wengen last month, said a packed calendar and extended daily programmes were contributing to an unsafe environment for athletes, a stance Shiffrin echoed.

"It's pretty hard to put into words what the actual demands are like for athletes who are in the top 15 in multiple disciplines and consistently on the podium," said Shiffrin.

"It's really too much. I absolutely believe that fatigue at this point in the season plays a role in the injuries we have seen lately, including my own."

Mikaela Shiffrin will not race during this weekend's World Cup in Soldeu, Andorra as she needs more time to recover from the knee injury she sustained during a downhill race two weeks ago in Italy, the American skier said on Wednesday.

Mikaela Shiffrin will not race during this weekend's World Cup in Soldeu, Andorra as she needs more time to recover from the knee injury she sustained during a downhill race two weeks ago in Italy, the American skier said on Wednesday. Shiffrin, owner of a record 95 World Cup wins, was airlifted away following a high-speed crash on the same piste that will be home to the women's downhill at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and said her knee cannot handle the load of racing just yet. "I just need a bit more time to heal and re-condition," Shiffrin wrote in an Instagram post. "As I've mentioned, there was no major ligament damage and the structure within the joint of my knee looks good." The 28-year-old Shiffrin said she is managing a medial collateral ligament sprain, a sprain of the tibial-fibular ligaments, as well as a bone bruise from earlier in the season. ALSO READ: Tennis: Novak Djokovic to play Indian Wells for first time since 2019 "I took a ton of stress to my whole leg when I crashed and stretched a bunch of things that are continuing to cause pain, although that is improving every day!" Shiffrin wrote. "The fact that everything is structurally intact is super positive, but I still need to be patient... I am in this for the long haul and want to ensure my knee is strong and I am fully capable of powerful skiing when I return to the start gate." Shiffrin also supported longtime partner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's call for better World Cup race-day schedules to help protect athletes from injuries. Norwegian skier Kilde, who suffered a horrific crash during a World Cup race on the Lauberhorn course in Wengen last month, said a packed calendar and extended daily programmes were contributing to an unsafe environment for athletes, a stance Shiffrin echoed. "It's pretty hard to put into words what the actual demands are like for athletes who are in the top 15 in multiple disciplines and consistently on the podium," said Shiffrin. "It's really too much. I absolutely believe that fatigue at this point in the season plays a role in the injuries we have seen lately, including my own."

Alpine Skiing - Mikaela Shiffrin to skip World Cup ski races in Andorra to recover from knee injury

Switzerland's Michelle Gisin retained her Olympic title in the women's combined on Thursday as American Mikaela Shiffrin yet again failed to finish.

Gisin won gold with a total time of 2:25.67, a comfortable 1.05 ahead of compatriot Wendy Holdener. Italy's Federica Brignone finished in the bronze medal position.

Shiffrin was a strong favourite, even after her ill-fated performances at these Games, but for the third time here had the letters DNF - Did Not Finish -- next to her name.

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She was well placed as fifth fastest after the morning's downhill leg but, returning to the Ice River course where she had skied out in both the giant slalom and slalom, Shiffrin missed a gate and incredibly skied off the course yet again.

"I didn’t make it to the finish again, and like 60 percent of my DNF rate has happened at this Olympic Games," said the American who came into the Games as the star of the sport and the great American medal hope.

"I didn’t feel pressure there. I mean there is always pressure but I just felt loose and relaxed and like I knew my plan, focused and good skiing - I was doing it and it still didn’t work. That is what it is," she said.

The six-times world champion has had 47 World Cup victories in slalom but that experience has counted for precious little in Beijing.

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"47 different times I had this feeling - the right balance of intensity, focus, the feeling I had on my skis - it always worked.

"It was always good, fast skiing but I never had an issue not finishing and especially not that early. So it is just a little bit of a mind-boggling event I guess".

Shiffrin won gold in giant slalom at Pyeongchang 2018 after winning the slalom title at Sochi 2014. She also claimed the silver medal in the combined four years ago.

BELOW EXPECTATIONS

The 26-year-old has competed in every individual event in Beijing but her results have been way below all expectations. She was only able to complete the speed events, finishing ninth in the super-G and 18th in the downhill.

But while Americans scratch their heads over Shiffrin's sudden loss of form, the Swiss are basking in their domination of the sport.

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Gisin's victory produced the fifth gold for the Swiss team at these Games and the second medal for both Gisin and Holdener.

"Four years ago I did it with my downhill and this time I did it with my slalom. It's a pity that Mikaela did not finish, I would love to have battled for gold with her," said Gisin

"I didn't think I could put a slalom run together like this after these three weeks, it was so intense."

Three of the Swiss Alpine team's golds have been for women and the country's Alpine medal tally in Beijing stands at nine in total, including a bronze in super-G for Gisin while Holdener finished third in slalom.

The pair had both medalled in the combined in Pyeongchang with Holdener taking bronze as Gisin triumphed.

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Czech Ester Ledecka finished fourth, narrowly missing out on an Alpine medal to go with her snowboard gold in the parallel giant slalom.

Four years ago, Ledecka made history when she became the first athlete to win gold in both her snowboard event and Alpine, where she won in super-G.

Switzerland's Michelle Gisin retained her Olympic title in the women's combined on Thursday as American Mikaela Shiffrin yet again failed to finish. Gisin won gold with a total time of 2:25.

Switzerland's Michelle Gisin retained her Olympic title in the women's combined on Thursday as American Mikaela Shiffrin yet again failed to finish. Gisin won gold with a total time of 2:25.67, a comfortable 1.05 ahead of compatriot Wendy Holdener. Italy's Federica Brignone finished in the bronze medal position. Shiffrin was a strong favourite, even after her ill-fated performances at these Games, but for the third time here had the letters DNF - Did Not Finish -- next to her name. ALSO READ: Beijing Winter Olympics: Sweden's Sandra Naeslund wins women's ski cross final, takes home gold She was well placed as fifth fastest after the morning's downhill leg but, returning to the Ice River course where she had skied out in both the giant slalom and slalom, Shiffrin missed a gate and incredibly skied off the course yet again. "I didn’t make it to the finish again, and like 60 percent of my DNF rate has happened at this Olympic Games," said the American who came into the Games as the star of the sport and the great American medal hope. "I didn’t feel pressure there. I mean there is always pressure but I just felt loose and relaxed and like I knew my plan, focused and good skiing - I was doing it and it still didn’t work. That is what it is," she said. The six-times world champion has had 47 World Cup victories in slalom but that experience has counted for precious little in Beijing. ALSO READ: Beijing Winter Olympics: Canada reclaims gold medal, U.S. settles for silver in ice hockey "47 different times I had this feeling - the right balance of intensity, focus, the feeling I had on my skis - it always worked. "It was always good, fast skiing but I never had an issue not finishing and especially not that early. So it is just a little bit of a mind-boggling event I guess". Shiffrin won gold in giant slalom at Pyeongchang 2018 after winning the slalom title at Sochi 2014. She also claimed the silver medal in the combined four years ago. BELOW EXPECTATIONS The 26-year-old has competed in every individual event in Beijing but her results have been way below all expectations. She was only able to complete the speed events, finishing ninth in the super-G and 18th in the downhill. But while Americans scratch their heads over Shiffrin's sudden loss of form, the Swiss are basking in their domination of the sport. ALSO READ: Kamila Valieva receives loud cheers, breaks down after returning to action for 1st time since doping scandal Gisin's victory produced the fifth gold for the Swiss team at these Games and the second medal for both Gisin and Holdener. "Four years ago I did it with my downhill and this time I did it with my slalom. It's a pity that Mikaela did not finish, I would love to have battled for gold with her," said Gisin "I didn't think I could put a slalom run together like this after these three weeks, it was so intense." Three of the Swiss Alpine team's golds have been for women and the country's Alpine medal tally in Beijing stands at nine in total, including a bronze in super-G for Gisin while Holdener finished third in slalom. The pair had both medalled in the combined in Pyeongchang with Holdener taking bronze as Gisin triumphed. ALSO READ: American sprinter Richardson's case 'different' from Kamila Valieva's: International Olympic Committee Czech Ester Ledecka finished fourth, narrowly missing out on an Alpine medal to go with her snowboard gold in the parallel giant slalom. Four years ago, Ledecka made history when she became the first athlete to win gold in both her snowboard event and Alpine, where she won in super-G.

Beijing Olympics: Swiss skier Michelle Gisin retains gold as Mikaela Shiffrin fails again in Alpine skiing

Lindsey Vonn will head into retirement having overcome "serious anxiety" to bag one last medal, lauded by rivals as a supreme role model whose trail-blazing on-piste success guarantees her a place in the pantheon of alpine skiing greats.

The 34-year-old American, who admitted this season that her "body is broken beyond repair", claimed bronze in Sunday's world downhill behind Slovenian winner Ilka Stuhec and Swiss Corinne Suter.

The final race of the 2010 Olympic downhill champion's 19-season career was the "perfect ending", Vonn said, adding that she didn't think her absence from the sport would leave a void as big as the one felt in athletics by Usain Bolt's departure.

"I wanted more than anything to finish strong. I didn't want to end up like Tuesday, in the fence," said Vonn in reference to the super-G.

"It was an internal battle but in the end I won with my emotions, I stayed calm and was able to execute my plan ... and hang on for one last podium.

"Everyone knows my mentality at this point. I always risk everything all the time. That's the reason why I've been able to win so much but also the reason why I've crashed so much and had so many injuries."

During her career, Vonn has, among other accolades, claimed 82 World Cup victories, as well as four overall World Cup titles and 16 discipline globes -- a record.

She will hang up her catsuit, however, tantalisingly four short of Swedish icon Ingemar Stenmark's World Cup winning record of 86.

'Perfect ending'

Stenmark was present in Are, after being badgered by Vonn "via text, in all caps, many exclamation points!"

"He's a man of few words but he's calm, friendly and kind. It meant so much to me to have him in the finish," Vonn said of Stenmark.

"He's an icon and a legend in our sport. He doesn't like the spotlight, but he deserves to have it. I was just so grateful he was there, honestly it's the perfect ending to my career."

Vonn added that she had been inspired after watching Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, a close friend and erstwhile training partner, win silver in his final race in Saturday's men's downhill.

"I was cheering on Aksel, because I know he wanted to finish strong, like me," she said.

"It was really inspiring to watch him get a medal in his final race and definitely inspired me to again push myself one more time to try to get on the podium.

"We both had our fairytale finish and I'm excited to celebrate our careers tonight!"

No retirement doubts

Vonn, who posed for posterity shot after the race with her dog Lucy and all the other racers, insisted she had no doubts about her retirement, saying: "I'm in a position where my body isn't allowing me to ski the way I know that I can.

"I don't know that I can win any more and that's why I'm retiring. My body isn't allowing me to do what I need to do to win races. That's the best I could have done today. There's not another gear."

Asked if she thought she'd leave a Bolt-sized void in the sport, Vonn replied: "I hope not, there are a lot of good characters out there."

She picked out Italian Sofia Goggia, and Austrian Marcel Hirscher, Norway's Kjetil Jansrud and Italian Dominik Paris on the men's side before also naming US teammate Mikaela Shiffrin.

Vonn had caused an overnight contretemps with Shiffrin, who had taken exception to her assertion she could have medalled in all five disciplines in Are.

But super-G champion Shiffrin, although absent from Are as she hones her technique for the slalom and giant slalom, was one of the first to congratulate Vonn.

"When you close out your career with a world champs medal... Big congrats to @lindseyvonn for a perfect final run," said Shiffrin, along with emojis of clapping hands and party poppers.

Vonn added: "There's a lot of people that have the potential to continue to grow the sport, but it's not just about success but doing everything you can to promote it and that's a part of your job as an athlete."

Turning to what lay ahead for her, the most successful female skier of all time was in no doubt: chilling at home with boyfriend P.K. Subban of the NHL's Nashville Predators, watching US crime series Law &amp; Order.

All done in the full knowledge that there would be no daily knee warm-up the following morning.

Lindsey Vonn will head into retirement having overcome "serious anxiety" to bag one last medal, lauded by rivals as a supreme role model whose trail-blazing on-piste success guarantees her a place in the pantheon of alpine skiing greats.

Lindsey Vonn will head into retirement having overcome "serious anxiety" to bag one last medal, lauded by rivals as a supreme role model whose trail-blazing on-piste success guarantees her a place in the pantheon of alpine skiing greats. The 34-year-old American, who admitted this season that her "body is broken beyond repair", claimed bronze in Sunday's world downhill behind Slovenian winner Ilka Stuhec and Swiss Corinne Suter. The final race of the 2010 Olympic downhill champion's 19-season career was the "perfect ending", Vonn said, adding that she didn't think her absence from the sport would leave a void as big as the one felt in athletics by Usain Bolt's departure. "I wanted more than anything to finish strong. I didn't want to end up like Tuesday, in the fence," said Vonn in reference to the super-G. "It was an internal battle but in the end I won with my emotions, I stayed calm and was able to execute my plan ... and hang on for one last podium. "Everyone knows my mentality at this point. I always risk everything all the time. That's the reason why I've been able to win so much but also the reason why I've crashed so much and had so many injuries." During her career, Vonn has, among other accolades, claimed 82 World Cup victories, as well as four overall World Cup titles and 16 discipline globes -- a record. She will hang up her catsuit, however, tantalisingly four short of Swedish icon Ingemar Stenmark's World Cup winning record of 86. 'Perfect ending' Stenmark was present in Are, after being badgered by Vonn "via text, in all caps, many exclamation points!" "He's a man of few words but he's calm, friendly and kind. It meant so much to me to have him in the finish," Vonn said of Stenmark. "He's an icon and a legend in our sport. He doesn't like the spotlight, but he deserves to have it. I was just so grateful he was there, honestly it's the perfect ending to my career." Vonn added that she had been inspired after watching Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, a close friend and erstwhile training partner, win silver in his final race in Saturday's men's downhill. "I was cheering on Aksel, because I know he wanted to finish strong, like me," she said. "It was really inspiring to watch him get a medal in his final race and definitely inspired me to again push myself one more time to try to get on the podium. "We both had our fairytale finish and I'm excited to celebrate our careers tonight!" No retirement doubts Vonn, who posed for posterity shot after the race with her dog Lucy and all the other racers, insisted she had no doubts about her retirement, saying: "I'm in a position where my body isn't allowing me to ski the way I know that I can. "I don't know that I can win any more and that's why I'm retiring. My body isn't allowing me to do what I need to do to win races. That's the best I could have done today. There's not another gear." Asked if she thought she'd leave a Bolt-sized void in the sport, Vonn replied: "I hope not, there are a lot of good characters out there." She picked out Italian Sofia Goggia, and Austrian Marcel Hirscher, Norway's Kjetil Jansrud and Italian Dominik Paris on the men's side before also naming US teammate Mikaela Shiffrin. Vonn had caused an overnight contretemps with Shiffrin, who had taken exception to her assertion she could have medalled in all five disciplines in Are. But super-G champion Shiffrin, although absent from Are as she hones her technique for the slalom and giant slalom, was one of the first to congratulate Vonn. "When you close out your career with a world champs medal... Big congrats to @lindseyvonn for a perfect final run," said Shiffrin, along with emojis of clapping hands and party poppers. Vonn added: "There's a lot of people that have the potential to continue to grow the sport, but it's not just about success but doing everything you can to promote it and that's a part of your job as an athlete." Turning to what lay ahead for her, the most successful female skier of all time was in no doubt: chilling at home with boyfriend P.K. Subban of the NHL's Nashville Predators, watching US crime series Law & Order. All done in the full knowledge that there would be no daily knee warm-up the following morning.

Lindsey Vonn skis into sunset, leaving massive void for alpine skiing

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