Ski dominator Mikaela Shiffrin is always overwhelmed by the memories of her late father. Nevertheless, she can now look forward to the World Cup with anticipation.
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Mikaela Shiffrin first told of the last moments with her father.
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–Jeff Shiffrin, the father of the ski superstar, passed away unexpectedly in early February.
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–Wife Eileen and he have supported their daughter’s skiing career for years and accompanied the 25-year-old on her travels.
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–A familiar picture in the finish area: Mikaela Shiffrin shines as the winner – and has done so with impressive consistency for years.
Getty Images / Christophe Pallot / agence Zoom
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–In 2011 the young Mikaela Shiffrin took the podium for the first time. At the slalom in Lienz she was third.
Getty Images / Christophe Pallot / agence Zoom
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–A year later, she achieved her first World Cup victory in the Are slalom. At that time, Shiffrin was just 16 years old.
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–In February 2013 she became world champion for the first time. She won the slalom title in Schladming.
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–At the World Cup final in Lenzerheide, she secured the discipline win in slalom in the same year and thus won her first crystal ball.
Getty Images / Alain Grosclaude / agence Zoom
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–The following year, Shiffrin was allowed to wear an Olympic gold medal for the first time. In Sochi, she won the slalom.
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–The next milestone: in 2017 the first large crystal ball as overall World Cup winner.
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–So far, she has celebrated a total of 5 world championship titles, 2 Olympic gold medals, 66 World Cup victories, 3 overall World Cup victories and 8 discipline wins.
Getty Images / Christophe Pallot / agence Zoom
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Ski dominator Mikaela Shiffrin spoke for the first time of the last moments together with her father in an interview with CNN. The 25-year-old world champion and Olympic champion had lost her dad Jeff in February after a domestic accident.
Shortly before his death, Shiffrin could spend some time with him. “He didn’t look like himself anymore. But I could still feel him. I think about that a lot, »said Shiffrin with tears in his eyes and a cracked voice.
There are moments when she is still very sad. «And then there are other moments … when, for example, the garage door closes because someone goes out and fetches something. And when you hear that, you think very briefly: Oh, Dad is back from work, »Shiffrin said.
The American had missed several races this year due to the bereavement and therefore did not defend her overall victory. In addition, the season finale was canceled due to the Corona crisis. Federica Brignone brought the big crystal ball from Italy.
“So close that it hurts sometimes”
After emotionally difficult weeks, Shiffrin longs to return on snow. “My motivation is rising again,” she said. “I’m waiting for Sölden, for the first races.” The traditional start of the season is planned for Tyrol in October. “I want to go there, my dad would like that too,” added the winter sportswoman. “I’m close to him on the mountain – so close that it sometimes hurts.”
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