https://archive.triblive.com/news/american-teen-mikaela-shiffrin-finishes-5th-in-giant-slalom-at-olympics/
American teen Mikaela Shiffrin finishes 5th in giant slalom at Olympics
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin passes a gate in the second run of the women's giant slalom at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — Mikaela Shiffrin knew what to do after the first run of the giant slalom left the teen skiiing sensation in fifth place.
“Ski faster,” she said.
Shiffrin did just that, slicing through the rain and snow to trim some off her first run time in the first Olympic race of her young life. But her stay near the top of the leaderboard was brief, and she was eliminated from medal contention.
Her goal was gold. But under difficult conditions, the 18-year-old gained valuable experience that could pay off when she goes off as the favorite Friday in the slalom.
“I wanted a gold, but I also think this was meant to happen,” she said. “It's something I will learn from the next Olympics I go to, I'm sure.”
The closest thing to a replacement for the U.S. in the Olympics for the injured Lindsey Vonn, Shiffrin had a chance to boost the flagging hopes of the country's ski team by snatching a medal in her debut.
It wasn't to be, though, with Tina Maze of Slovenia earning her second gold medal of the Sochi Games and two former gold-medal winners in Anna Fenninger and Viktoria Rebensburg taking the silver and bronze.
“It's amazing to be at my first Olympics and have that first race out of the way,” said Shiffrin, who finished fifth.
Shiffrin raced well, bettering her time in the second run as snow alternated with rain.
But mistakes on turns cost her time in the middle of the second run, and she couldn't make it up.
She was in second place as she crossed the finish line, but there were four other skiers with first-run times better than her who were yet to ski. It became a numbers game that Shiffrin quickly lost.
Shiffrin, who first raced in the World Cup at age 15 and is the reigning slalom champion, is the favorite to win a gold medal Friday. She had never won a World Cup giant slalom, though she has been on the podium twice in the race on the World Cup circuit this year and was given an outside chance at picking up a medal in this race.
Maze said Shiffrin faced pressure with Vonn missing from a U.S. team that has so far underperformed in Russia. The U.S. has yet to win a gold medal in skiing in these games.
“It must be hard. Now she's done GS and will probably be more relaxed for slalom,” Maze said. “I think she's a great athlete. She has a great team around her.”
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