Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful World Cup Alpine ski racer in history, managed to escape a serious injury after crashing into safety nets during a downhill run on the course in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The same course is set to host the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

During the race, Shiffrin lost control and collided with the safety nets while attempting to land a jump just 17 seconds into her run. Despite the frightening accident, U.S. team coach Paul Kristofic reported that Shiffrin remained positive and relieved, as her injuries could have been worse. However, she is experiencing soreness from the crash.

Shiffrin's ski detached during the high-speed crash, and she needed assistance to get up. She used her ski poles as crutches and was then airlifted to a clinic in Cortina for examination. Initial analysis from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team suggests that her ACL and PCL remain intact.

Despite her own injuries, Shiffrin showed her support for her teammates by sending encouraging messages. She expressed her confidence in them and declared that the surface conditions were favorable. Meanwhile, Shiffrin's followers expressed their support and she thanked them for their well wishes.

Notably, three Americans managed to secure top 20 finishes in the competition held that day. Jacqueline Wiles finished 13th, Lauren Macuga took 16th place, while Isabella Wright claimed 18th place. Out of the 52 starters, 12 of them did not finish the race.

Austrian skier Stephanie Venier emerged victorious, finishing 0.39 seconds ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami. Venier had a remarkable performance, leading to a five-person podium as three skiers tied for third place—Valerie Grenier, Christina Ager, and local favorite Sofia Goggia.

Following Shiffrin's accident, former overall champion Federica Brignone also took a minor crash when the race resumed. However, she was able to continue skiing down under her own power. Brignone mentioned that the course was mentally challenging but assured everyone that she only suffered a few bruises.

There were concerns over the injury of Olympic champion Corinne Suter as well. Suter interrupted her run and was heard screaming after landing on the same jump that caused problems for Shiffrin. She left the course in the back of a vehicle, and it is currently unclear if she sustained any significant injuries.

With another downhill race scheduled for Saturday in Cortina, Shiffrin has announced that she will sit out of both that event and Sunday's super-G. The exact timeline for her return to the sport remains uncertain. Shiffrin holds an impressive record of 95 World Cup victories, while Venier's win in Cortina marked her eighth career World Cup triumph.