Mikaela Shiffrin Injured, Unable to Compete in First World Cup Tour Opener Next Week

The FIS Alpine World Cup Tour opener at Sölden, Austria is just over one week from today and Mikaela Shiffrin will have to miss it this year. 

• Related: U.S. Star Mikaela Shiffrin Questions Her Skiing Future After Father’s Death

The double Olympic and three-time overall World Cup champion said in a written statement that she’s been advised not to compete in this event so that she can let an injury recently sustained to her back heal, allowing her to race for the remainder of the race season. She wrote:

As most of you probably know (if you don’t then mark your calendars now!) the  FIS Alpine World Cup Tour opener at Sölden / Soelden / Solden is just over one week from today … but much to my disappointment, I will not be able to start this year. After tweaking my back skiing last week, I have been advised to sit Soelden out to let my back heal so I can race the rest of the season. Having started in Soelden for the last eight years straight, this feels…really frustrating and strange (for lack of better words). Luckily, this injury will heal and I will be back in the start soon… (and I can’t wait).

While this is a bummer to not be racing myself, I am super psyched to watch my teammates compete. They are looking strong, fast, and fired up . I’ll be cheering as loud as I can for our US women and men next weekend and I hope you will be too!

I want to thank everyone, from my sponsors to the media, to the fans, the

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

staff and my teammates, for your support in this whole process and for helping me get back out there doing the sport I love.

YA’LL… this is HAPPENING. With all the uncertainty throughout this year, we are only ONE WEEK (and a day) away from the start of the World Cup season and that is something to be really excited about. Okay, maybe my countdown has been delayed, but the big countdown is ON and I can’t wait for it to start. I’m wishing the best to everyone racing in Soelden, and I’ll see you all soon.

The first race on the FIS Alpine World Cup Tour is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 in Sölden, Austria.