Lindsay Vonn urges Team USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin to ‘keep her head high’

American skiing legend Lindsay Vonn has urged Team USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin to ‘keep her head high’, after she crashed out of a second event at Beijing 2022.

Vonn, who has won three Olympic medals and four World Cup championships, offered her support when Shiffrin was knocked out of the slalom event today [Wednesday] just days after she failed in the giant slalom.

Shiffrin, 26, who won gold at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, broke down in tears in the snow after being disqualified.

Simone Biles who also had a troubled summer Olympics also sent her a message containing three heart emojis.

Shiffrin, 26, who won gold at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, broke down in tears in the snow after being disqualified

A team member consoles Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States after she skied out in the first run of the women’s slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Wednesday 

The skier came into trouble soon after the first run began and missed the fourth gate and concluded her run with a DNF – Did Not Finish 

The skier came into trouble soon after the first run began and missed the fourth gate and concluded her run with a DNF – Did Not Finish.

Vonn, who was forced to retire in 2019 due to injury, offered her former team-mate consolation.

She tweeted: ‘Gutted for @MikaelaShiffrin but this does not take away from her storied career and what she can and will accomplish going forward. Keep your head high.’

Team USA Alpine’s golden girl Shiffrin was slated to win up to five medals following a spectacular 2021 season in which she became America’s most decorated skier.

Simone Biles who also had a troubled summer Olympics also sent her a message containing three heart emojis

Shiffrin has six golds, one silver and two bronzes.

Speaking of her disappointment at not being able to defend her 2018 Olympic gold after crashing out of the giant slalom she said:

‘I never get over it and I won’t ever get over this either.

‘But I just have to put the pause button on really feeling the emotions or dwelling on it, because it just takes too much energy and I just can’t, I can’t do it.’ Shiffrin could not hide her disappointment when she told how she crashed out of the slalom event.

Team USA Alpine’s golden girl Shiffrin was slated to win up to five medals following a spectacular 2021 season in which she became America’s most decorated skier

Speaking moments after she was disqualified she said: ‘ I was pushing out of the start. I had full intentions of skiing as hard as i could. And i slipped up a little bit on one turn and i just.. I didn’t give myself room to make any part of error like that and still be able to make the course.’

Asked how she was feeling, she replied: ‘Pretty awful. But I won’t feel awful forever that’s for sure. I’m pretty low right now.’ 

Speaking moments after she was disqualified she said: ‘ I was pushing out of the start. I had full intentions of skiing as hard as i could. And i slipped up a little bit on one turn and i just.. I didn’t give myself room to make any part of error like that and still be able to make the course.’

‘That was my plan. I was planning to go on the most aggressive line, the most challenging line to ski. But I also know it is the fastest. I didn’t make it past five gates. So that’s, I guess that’s what happened.

Asked how she was feeling, she replied: ‘Pretty awful. But I won’t feel awful forever that’s for sure. I’m pretty low right now.’