These are the top U.S. athletes to watch in the Beijing Winter Olympics
Many of the world's best athletes are preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics​ in February. These are some of the top ones to watch.
Meet the Athletes: Mikaela Shiffrin
Get to know three-time Olympic medalist Alpine skier, Mikaela Shiffrin.
Mikaela Shiffrin wins her record 47th World Cup slalom ahead of Beijing Olympics
The American improved from fifth place, posting the fastest time with an all-attacking run to beat Petra Vlhova by 0.15 seconds.
AP source: White pulled out due to lingering COVID symptoms
Shaun White's withdrawal from an Olympic qualifying event came after he experienced lingering COVID-19 symptoms, including fatigue and shortness of breath, The Associated Press has learned.
Vlhova denies Holdener 1st WCup slalom win; Shiffrin DNF'd
Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova won a women's World Cup slalom as she denied first-run leader Wendy Holdener of Switzerland a first career win.
Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic gold medalist, tests positive for COVID-19
The skiing star said she is "doing well" despite the positive test.
Shiffrin is latest elite skier to test positive for COVID-19
Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin is the latest elite skier to test positive for COVID-19 with the Beijing Games less than six weeks away.
Is Blood-Flow Restriction the Future of Performance?
Athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin have started adopting the training technique to increase endurance, muscle mass, and more
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What You Missed: Mikaela Shiffrin's Toughest Challenge Yet
We spoke to Mikaela Shiffrin about injuries, Simone Biles, and the pressures of Olympic stardom
Olympic champion Shiffrin dominates GS, regains overall lead
Mikaela Shiffrin dominated the first of two midweek women's World Cup giant slaloms.
What You Missed: Housing Crisis Hits Tahoe Ski Resort
Tahoe resort cuts back on services due to a shortage of staff, Mikaela Shiffrin to race super-G in France, and a hydrofoil boarder returns to the waves
This weekend on the Road to the Olympics: U.S. short track team to be decided at Olympic Trials
Schedule and live stream links for winter sports events taking place December 17-19.
Shiffrin rival Vlhova sticks to reduced World Cup schedule
Slovakian skier Petra Vlhova will stick to her reduced World Cup schedule this season.
Brignone wins World Cup super-G after Gut-Behrami crashes
Federica Brignone has won a wind-swept World Cup super-G that saw pre-race favorite Lara Gut-Behrami crash out through the safety fences.
This weekend on the Road to the Olympics: Shaun White headlines halfpipe qualifier
Event schedule and live stream links for winter sports events taking place December 10-12.
This weekend on Road to the Olympics: Winter sports schedule for Dec. 3-5
A look at what's happening in the Olympic sports world during the weekend of December 3-5, 2021.
What You Missed: Crews Rescue Dog on Mexico's Highest Peak
Hikers rescue stranded dog on Pico de Orizaba, Mikaela Shiffrin ties World Cup wins record, New Zealand MP bikes to childbirth
Mikaela Shiffrin has marked the return of the women's World Cup to North America by setting yet another record.
Mikaela Shiffrin looking forward to Killington homecoming
With the Alpine skiing World Cup returning to North America for the first time in two years, Mikaela Shiffrin can't wait to race in front of a home crowd again.
Slovakian skier Vlhova beats Shiffrin for 2nd time in 2 days
Petra Vlhova got the better of Mikaela Shiffrin for the second time in two days by winning another women's World Cup slalom in Finnish Lapland.
Vlhova beats Shiffrin in 1st slalom of World Cup season
Petra Vlhova has held on to her first-run lead to beat Mikaela Shiffrin and win the first World Cup slalom of the season.
What You Missed: Drone Helps California Crews Find Hiker
California rescue aided by drone, Mikaela Shiffrin chases ski record, and turkey trot Strava art
U.S. athletes to watch at the 2022 Winter Olympics: Part 1
A look at Shaun White, Chloe Kim, Mikaela Shiffrin, Jessie Diggins and other notable athletes expected to compete for Team USA at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
Olympic champion ski racer Shiffrin dealing with back issue
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin tells the AP she is not able to ski and prepare the way she would like to currently because of a hurt back.
Alpine Skiing 101: Since PyeongChang
Learn who's back to chase Alpine skiing gold in 2022, who's hung up their skis, and who's broken through since the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Ski racer Shiffrin eyes 5-event Olympics after 3 last time
Mikaela Shiffrin wants to participate in every individual women's Alpine ski race at the Beijing Olympics.
'Can't miss him more:' Shiffrin reflects on her late father
Rarely a day passes when some image, moment or song doesn't remind skiing great Mikaela Shiffrin of her father.
AP Exclusive: Full-blown boycott pushed for Beijing Olympics
Groups alleging human-rights abuses against minorities in China are calling for a full-blown boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Airbnb asked to drop Olympic ties over China rights issues
Airbnb Inc. is being asked to drop its sponsorship connections to 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics by a coalition of 150 human-rights campaigners. The coalition is headed by groups that oppose rights violations in China including widely reported genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. The coalition is headed by groups that oppose rights violations in China including the detention of Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. Ad"Airbnb is also glossing over China's horrifying human rights record and normalizing to the public what is recognized under international law as a deeply restrictive environment," the letter said. Ad"China firmly rejects the politicization of sports and opposes using human rights issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said earlier this month.
Robinson edges Shiffrin to win final World Cup giant slalom
New Zealand's Alice Robinson reacts after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Sunday, March 21, 2021. All rights reservedLENZERHEIDE – An aggressive second run lifted teenager Alice Robinson ahead of Mikaela Shiffrin to win a giant slalom that ended the women's World Cup ski season on Sunday. It was the 19-year-old New Zealander's third win in giant slalom on the World Cup circuit. "Good job," Shiffrin, who also started winning World Cup races as a teenager, told Robinson in the finish area. One day after being crowned the overall World Cup champion, Petra Vlhova ended her tiring season with an 11th-place finish.
Shiffrin left fuming over start delay after Vlhova home win
Slovakia's Petra Vlhova celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, World Cup women's giant slalom in Jasna, Slovakia, Sunday, March 7, 2021. '"While Shiffrin acknowledged interruptions are a common part of the sport, she said the lengthy delay was not necessary this time. Vlhova finished 10th and 12th in the last two giant slaloms on the World Cup, and 12th at the world championships last month. Jasna is not a regular stop on the women's World Cup circuit. The result gave Bassino a lead of 148 points over Worley with only the season-ending GS at the World Cup Finals in Switzerland remaining.
Clutch hitter: Shiffrin doesn't miss when medals are on line
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin prepares at start point during the super G portion of the women's combined race, at the alpine ski World Championships, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)CORTINA D'AMPEZZO – CORTINA D'If Mikaela Shiffrin were a baseball player, her numbers would make her a post-season MVP. That's a combined 14 for 18 at major championships — worlds and Olympics. And he said, 'World championships there is one goal. "So in a way there's less pressure at world champs than even World Cup races, because you're not protecting something.
A 'huge resounding' success: Shiffrin medals in all 4 events
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin shows her bronze medal of the women's slalom, at the alpine ski World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. What a refreshing sight it was to see Mikaela Shiffrin basking in the afternoon sunlight after another successful day in the Italian Dolomites. That's a huge, resounding yes," Shiffrin replied. Hopefully somewhere in these two weeks I can do some good skiing.' And I'm really proud of so much of the skiing I did."It wasn't just the skiing, though. "If this was last year, I would be maybe disappointed but not as grateful for the good moments in the day," Shiffrin said, referring to her nearly two-second deficit behind Liensberger.
Rebooted: Liensberger ends Shiffrin's gold streak in slalom
Petra Vlhova, the overall and slalom World Cup leader from Slovakia, was one second behind the Austrian for silver. After her triumph in Tuesday's parallel event, Liensberger became a double world champion but has yet to win on the World Cup circuit. Shiffrin's previous world title came in her record-breaking World Cup 2018-19 season, winning 17 races on the road to her third overall title. The dispute even led to Liensberger having to sit out the World Cup season opener in October 2019, but she re-signed with Rossignol the following month. Overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone and Shiffrin's teammate Paula Moltzan also skied out in the first run, while Americans Nina O'Brien and AJ Hurt didn't finish their second runs.
Gut-Behrami wins again, edges Shiffrin in giant slalom
Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami eyes her gold medal after a women's giant slalom, at the alpine ski World Championships, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. Gut-Behrami edged Shiffrin for gold in the giant slalom on Thursday, making up a deficit on the first-run leader with a blistering final leg to beat the American by two-hundredths of a second. After Shiffrin had completed her run, Gut-Behrami hugged the American and stormed through the finish area to celebrate with her coaches. Gut-Behrami also won gold in the super-G and bronze in the downhill at this year's worlds. AdShiffrin dropped 0.14 seconds behind Gut-Behrami halfway through her final run but made up time in the flat final section.
Barred from travel by husband, Iran ski coach works remotely
(AP Photo/Andrew Dampf)CORTINA D'AMPEZZO – CORTINA D'When the husband of Iran's Alpine ski team coach took advantage of a local law and barred his wife from leaving the country, Samira Zargari picked up her phone and continued coaching remotely. She said her husband was born in the United States and is a citizen of both the U.S. and Iran. I'm sure the strong women can for sure change these rules and she will be stronger than before. Social customs still come into the game, though, as the country's soccer team plays its matches with players' hair covered by traditional headscarves, or hijabs. Ski Team racer who now represents Mexico, has gotten to know Zargari over the years.
Shiffrin close to male skiers on same course at worlds
Likewise in the men's race, 2017 world champion Luca Aerni was among those who failed to finish the slalom leg. Well, it's an inexact science, but Shiffrin required 45.05 seconds to clear the 57 turning gates of the women's slalom course. Add in the three more turning gates on the men's course, the equivalent of a 5.26% increase, and it translates to an extra 2.37 seconds. That would have placed Shiffrin ninth overall in the men's race. I wrote in my diary, 'I want to be the best skier in the world,'" Shiffrin said.
Mikaela Shiffrin wins women's combined to set American record with 6th skiing world championship title
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin's latest gold medal from the skiing world championships moved her past both Lindsey Vonn and Ted Ligety. DENIS BALIBOUSE / REUTERSShiffrin also set an American record with her sixth world championship title after sharing the mark with Ligety, who retired last week. Shiffrin excelled in both the super-G and the slalom portion to win her second medal of this year's worlds. United States' Mikaela Shiffrin competes during the slalom portion of the women's combined race, at the alpine ski World Championships, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Even Vlhova, the overall and slalom World Cup leader, lost ground on Shiffrin after she placed seventh in the super-G.Two of Shiffrin's main competitors failed to complete their slalom runs.
The Latest: Schwarz wins combined for Austria's 3rd gold
Austria's Marco Schwarz competes in the slalom portion of the men's combined race, at the alpine ski World Championships, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. All rights reservedCORTINA D'AMPEZZO – CORTINA D'The Latest from the skiing world championships (all times local):___3:50 p.m.Marco Schwarz won the men's combined to give Austria its third gold medal at the skiing world championships. He was four-tenths off the lead in fifth after the super-G portion before posting the fastest time in the slalom leg. Brignone beat Elena Curtoni by 0.01 as Italy went 1-2 in the super-G portion with Shiffrin looming in third. Two-time combined world champion Wendy Holdener of Switzerland finished 0.97 behind.
Lindsey Vonn: I wanted to end my career at Cortina worlds
Having retired from racing in 2019, Vonn is offering her thoughts on the 2021 world championships in Cortina in a diary with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati, file)EDITOR'S NOTE: Lindsey Vonn is the most successful female ski racer of all-time with 82 career World Cup victories. A former overall champion and the winner of 30 World Cup races, it marked a major breakthrough after three silvers and three bronzes at worlds and Olympics. A lot of successful World Cup racers never actually win a world championship gold medal. Executing on one day for the Olympics or world championships is always one of the more challenging things to do in our sport.
Gut-Behrami wins elusive gold in worlds opener, Shiffrin 3rd
The 2016 overall World Cup champion beat Swiss teammate Corinne Suter by 0.34 seconds, living up to her billing as the main favorite after winning the last four super-Gs on the World Cup circuit. Ad"It's a disappointment not to win gold. Even when I made a mistake, I still felt good about my skiing," Shiffrin said. Petra Vlhova, the overall World Cup leader from Slovakia, finished ninth, nearly two weeks after gaining her first career super-G podium. "The worst thing today was the silence," said Brignone, who is the defending overall World Cup champion.
Wait a minute: Postponements test skiers' patience at worlds
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin inspects the course prior to the women's super-G, at the alpine ski World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. With all events on the opening three days of the skiing world championships postponed, athletes have had their patience — not their racing skills — put to the test. Four gold medals should have been handed out by Wednesday, but so far there have been no races. Ad"Everybody: It's always nice weather in Cortina, of course the schedule will play out without any issues! "You wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and then you race," Shiffrin said.
Skiing worlds in Cortina will lack fans but not scenery
(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta, File)Watching racers whizz through the Tofana schuss at top speed could be the signature image of the skiing world championships. The schuss is also a big part of an endless array of spectacular scenery in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the resort known as the "Queen" of the Italian Dolomites. AdAfter last year's World Cup finals in Cortina were wiped out because of the spread of COVID-19, organizers asked the International Ski Federation to postpone the worlds to 2022. Former overall World Cup champion Lara Gut-Behrami has won four straight World Cup super-G races and will be an overwhelming favorite for that race on Day 2. AdAlso last month, defending overall World Cup champion Aleksander Aamodt Kilde tore ligaments in his right knee in a crash.
The Latest: Canadian women's hockey team opens Calgary camp
(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Canadian women's hockey team opened a 35-player camp in a Calgary bubble. The 2020 women's world hockey championship in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, was postponed to April 7-17, 2021 because of the pandemic. National team players have skated and trained this winter in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary hubs. Last week, three players tested positive and that led to the Spartans postponing games at No. FIS says Waldner tested positive while overseeing slalom races in Flachau, Austria.
Italian skier Bassino gets 2nd straight GS win, Shiffrin 6th
Italy's Marta Bassino celebrates after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. KRANJSKA GORA – Marta Bassino won her second World Cup giant slalom in two days Sunday after first-run leader Mikaela Shiffrin dropped to sixth. Bassino trailed Shiffrin by three-tenths of a second after the American's near-perfect opening run, but the Italian posted the fastest time in the final. Shiffrin finished 1.27 back in sixth, equaling her result in Saturday's race. Bassino won the race 0.66 ahead of Michelle Gisin, a day after the Swiss skier earned her first career podium in GS.
Shiffrin takes clear lead in GS after 1st run, Bassino 2nd
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course of an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. KRANJSKA GORA – Mikaela Shiffrin had a near-perfect run in the opening leg to take a clear lead in a women's World Cup giant slalom Sunday. Shiffrin placed sixth in a GS on the same course Saturday, which Bassino won. Local favorite Meta Hrovat, daughter of the village's mayor, Janez Hrovat, was fourth after the opening run, followed by Tessa Worley in fifth. Overall World Cup leader Petra Vlhova had 1.43 seconds to make up in the second run and Federica Brignone, the defending overall champion, was 1.89 behind.
Seeking speed: Shiffrin eyes return to super-G training
(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)Since her return to Alpine skiing's World Cup six weeks ago, Mikaela Shiffrin has been solely focusing on her strongest events: slalom and GS. Shiffrin won a record fourth straight slalom title, but also a super-G gold at the worlds in Sweden two years ago. "That would be ideal — that's the plan."Picking up super-G training again in the third week of January could enable Shiffrin to compete in the speed events at the world championships. But with Shiffrin as the 2019 gold medalist, the U.S. ski team gets an additional starting berth for the Feb. 9 super-G race. Still, she won't start in a speed race in Cortina d'Ampezzo next month just for the sake of racing it.
Vlhova edges Liensberger in slalom in Croatia; Shiffrin 4th
Slovakia's Petra Vlhova celebrates as she arrives at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup Slalom, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)ZAGREB – Shortly after winning the first women's World Cup slalom of 2021 on Sunday, Petra Vlhova kneeled with her face down, torn between relief and disbelief. Leading after the first run, Vlhova thought she had squandered her chances in a rough final run with several mistakes on the deteriorating course. After Vlhova and Shiffrin dominated women's slalom racing in recent years, Liensberger and Gisin seem to have closed the gap. The women's World Cup continues with speed races in St. Anton, Austria, next weekend.
US skiers step out of Shiffrin's shadow with strong results
United States' Breezy Johnson holds the trophy after finishing third in a alpine ski, women's World Cup downhill, in Val d'Isere, France, Saturday, Dec.19, 2020. Shiffrin was responsible for all 34 American podium results on the women's circuit in the past two seasons, but three months into the current campaign, two team members have scooped top-three results as well. The season has also brought a string of career-best results for Nina O'Brien, Keely Cashman and AJ Hurt. "I am really excited about and proud of our team," Shiffrin said after placing third in the year-end night slalom in Semmering, Austria, on Tuesday. That same season Shiffrin won her second overall title while Alice McKennis Duran and Jacqueline Wiles also scored podium results.
Shiffrin leads Gisin in slalom after 1st run, Vlhova in 6th
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Semmering, Austria, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. All rights reservedSEMMERING – Mikaela Shiffrin held a slim lead after the opening run of women's World Cup slalom Tuesday, putting Petra Vlhova's five-race winning streak in danger. All 28 World Cup slaloms since January 2017 have been won by either Shiffrin, who triumphed 19 times, or Vlhova. Shiffrin is after her second win since returning to the circuit in November from a 10-month break. The American won this race the last two times it was held, in 2016 and 2018.
Strong winds force cancellation of 2nd run of GS in Austria
Cable cars are blown by strong winds during a pause of an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Semmering, Austria, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)SEMMERING – The second run of a women's World Cup giant slalom was canceled Monday after increasingly strong winds destroyed parts the finish area. Organizers first lowered the start gate for the second run after gusts set in higher up on the mountain following the opening leg. Vlhova won the the GS on the Zauberberg in 2018 for the first of her four World Cup wins in the discipline. Shiffrin won two giant slaloms in two days on this hill in 2016 before adding a slalom victory the next day.
Mikaela Shiffrin wins emotional World Cup giant slalom race
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin reacts at finish area after completing an alpine ski women's World Cup giant slalom in Courchevel, France, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)COURCHEVEL – An emotional Mikaela Shiffrin won her first World Cup ski race since the death of her father nearly a year ago. Shiffrin protected her first-run lead in Monday's giant slalom and finished 0.82 seconds ahead of Federica Brignone. The American skier was at first subdued after crossing the line and seeing she had secured her 67th World Cup win. Shiffrin tied Marcel Hirscher for third on the all-time World Cup win list, trailing only Lindsey Vonn with 82 and Ingemar Stenmark with 86.
After long break, Shiffrin grateful just to be racing again
Set for a return to ski racing after 300 days away, Mikaela Shiffrin is looking for the answer to a question she has been asking herself since March. "It didn't really feel it was that long of a break," she said. Her father, Jeff Shiffrin, suddenly died a week later following an accident at the family's home in Colorado. Shiffrin held a big lead in both the slalom and overall World Cup standings last season before her break, but she insisted that losing out on those titles didn't make her angry. "But on the flip side, I am incredibly grateful that I have my mom here with me so often.
Peak performers: Shiffrin, ski team return to snow for camp
The two-time Olympic champion and the rest of the U.S. womens team, along with the mens Europa squad, recently returned to snow for a two-week, pay-strict-adherence-to-social-distance-guidelines camp in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Copper Mountain made it work, though. It's like grooming a slushy, laughed Mike Looney, the senior slope maintenance manager at Copper Mountain. Super peaceful.The ski team is hoping to hold another camp in July, possibly at Mount Hood in Oregon. As for a World Cup season, Wright remains optimistic.