Mikaela Shiffrin tells NBC it’s ‘very likely’ she’ll return to competition this season

Early in the 2015-2016 World Cup season, Mikaela Shiffrin performed victoriously in one race after another, seemingly destined to take home another slalom globe and battle for the overall title against teammate Lindsey Vonn. Then, she crashed during a routine trip down the slope. The injured 20-year-old Olympic gold medalist sustained a severe bone bruise and MCL tear in her right leg during a freeski run in Are, Sweden, in mid-December.

“The crash itself was totally silly,” said the U.S. Ski Team standout in a recent interview with NBC’s Steve Porino. “It wasn’t like you look at a crash and you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, aside from the injury that was a sweet looking crash.’ And ‘You’re a cool person for living through that, for surviving that.’”

Early reports suggested that her injuries were potentially season-ending, a rough blow to the American technical team. However, the winds have changed lately, and spectators may see Shiffrin return to snow this season. In the interview, Shriffin tells Porino that she is itching to get back on snow, feeling strong and in good form. 

“I’d say it’s gone from unlikely to very possible that I can race,” she said, discussing when she’ll return to snow. “Like, from my perspective, [aside from] the doctors and parents and physios and everyone else’s side, I think I’ll be racing before the end of the season.”

When she returns to the World Cup circuit, she will surely have her mother Eileen by her side. Shriffin noted that the only times she’s been injured were when her mom wasn’t around like in Sweden, the first of her daughter’s World Cup races that Eileen did not attend.

The next two slalom races are scheduled to take place in Flachau, Austria, this week. If current slalom points leader Frida Hansdotter of Sweden lands on the podium without Shiffrin in the competition, it is unlikely the American would have a shot at the slalom globe she has won for three consecutive years.

Only time will tell when Shriffin will be back in winning form.

This may seem a bit vain.. But there are 2 main reasons why I’m posting this 1) I think back muscles are the coolest looking muscles out there.. And I always get really excited in the gym when my coach says my back looks strong hehe ☺️ 2) I can’t help but feeling proud every time I squat more weight, do an extra pull up, bike a little harder, and generally push myself more than I thought I could. Especially at this time when every person around me is giving me reasons why I can’t push harder just yet, because I’m not totally healed just yet- Being able to look at this photo and know that there was sweat, toughness, and probably a super ugly crunched up face that you can’t see reminds me that I am accomplishing something every day. Maybe I’m not breaking records right now. Maybe I’m not winning races right now. It’s easy to dwell on what I’m not doing and feel bad for myself, but seeing pics like this reminds me of what I AM doing right now and of what I will be able to do in the future because of it. Remember, the work you put in today shapes who you are tomorrow. Don’t be the person who is always a day late. #benow #iam

A photo posted by Mikaela Shiffrin (@mikaelashiffrin) on Jan 9, 2016 at 4:31pm PST