Mikaela Shiffrin made a significant return to competitive skiing, finishing 10th in the World Cup slalom event held in Courchevel, France, just 61 days after a serious injury. Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic secured her third win of the season, topping the race with a time of 1:45.06, 1.26 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Sara Hector and 1.28 seconds ahead of Germany's Lena Duerr. Shiffrin, striving for a record-extending 100th World Cup win, finished the race with a combined time of 1:47.10, trailing behind the leaders by 2.04 seconds.

Shiffrin's journey back to this point began after she suffered a deep muscle gash and puncture wound during a crash at the Stifel Killington Cup in Vermont on November 30, which had placed her entire season in jeopardy. “It was a very important step in my recovery to see how I’m stacking up with the top skiers in the world,” she stated after the race, emphasizing the need for further preparation before the upcoming world championships scheduled for February in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. With a clear plan in place to enhance her training, Shiffrin expressed optimism about her performance in the upcoming competitions.

The American skier began the Courchevel race strong, sitting fifth after the first run, but acknowledged that she struggled with timing and rhythm in her second run. “I'm catching up to the fastest in the world; I have a lot of work to do, but I’m happy to be here and look forward to trying that,” she shared, reflecting on her determination to improve.

Notably, Shiffrin is the most successful skier in World Cup history, having surpassed the legendary Ingemar Stenmark's record of 86 victories. With 99 wins to her name, she is not just chasing another milestone but also focusing on recovering and enhancing her competitive edge. As she prepares for the world championships, Shiffrin remains upbeat about her chances of returning to her dominating form.

However, her return was a reminder of the sport's challenges; her close competitor, Wendy Holdener, who had a strong start in the opening run, unfortunately did not finish due to a fall. While the standings saw Camille Rast leading the season with 450 points, Shiffrin sits in ninth with 226 points.

Shiffrin's remarkable comeback continues to garner attention as fans eagerly anticipate her performances in upcoming events. For more detailed information, visit AP News, Reuters, USA Today, and CNN.