The world of alpine skiing has recently been abuzz with a public exchange between two of its most celebrated athletes: Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin. The controversy centers around team selections for the new combined event at the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, and has highlighted underlying tensions between the two skiing icons.
Lindsey Vonn, 40, made a notable return to competitive skiing this season after nearly six years of retirement. Her comeback was driven by a passion to compete at the highest level and a desire to pair with Mikaela Shiffrin, 29, in the team combined event—a new addition to the World Championships that features one athlete skiing downhill and another tackling slalom, with their combined times determining the final standings. Vonn envisioned this partnership as a “dream team,” uniting the two most successful female skiers in World Cup history, boasting a combined total of 181 World Cup victories.
However, Shiffrin’s plans diverged from Vonn’s aspirations. Following a severe crash in November 2024 during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, Shiffrin sustained a deep puncture wound and severe muscle trauma, leading to a two-month hiatus from competition. Upon her return, she expressed concerns about her mental and physical readiness, particularly regarding high-speed events. Initially, Shiffrin announced she would not participate in the team combined event to focus on individual disciplines. Subsequently, she reconsidered and decided to compete, partnering with Breezy Johnson, the newly crowned downhill world champion.
Vonn learned of Shiffrin’s decision through social media, which led to her expressing disappointment over the lack of direct communication. She took to X (formerly Twitter), posting a now-deleted message: “Why am I not surprised?” accompanied by a shrug emoji. Later, Vonn acknowledged that her reaction may not have been constructive, stating, “Maybe I didn’t help myself or the team by having my Twitter fingers out. But at the same time, I’m a human being and I was disappointed in the communication.”
Despite the public exchange, the competition proceeded with Shiffrin and Johnson securing the gold medal in the team combined event, marking Shiffrin’s record-tying 15th World Championship medal. Vonn, paired with AJ Hurt, finished 16th after a challenging downhill run. Reflecting on the situation, Vonn emphasized her commitment to the team, stating, “I have always been supportive and respectful and that will never change.”
This episode underscores the complexities inherent in elite sports, where personal ambitions, team dynamics, and communication play pivotal roles. While both athletes have expressed mutual respect in the past, this incident highlights the challenges that can arise even among the most accomplished individuals in their field.
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