With Shiffrin out, Vlhova grabs 1st career win in slalom

Lindsey Vonn won her first giant slalom since her career-altering 2013 World Championships crash, proving Saturday (against an unaccomplished field) that she’s the world’s best healthy and active skier.

Shiffrin’s manager Kilian Albrecht tells The Associated Press that Shiffrin “basically flipped over into the net” and will not race Saturday.

“She’s in the hospital waiting for the MRI which will probably take a while”, Albrecht added.

The U.S. Ski Team is reserving comment on the incident until the full extent of Shiffrin’s injury is known.

Shiffrin was taken to a local hospital for exams on her right knee, and her status for Sunday’s slalom was uncertain.

Olympic slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin is going home to the United States for medical care after injuring her right knee while warming up for a World Cup giant slalom in Are, Sweden.

VAL D’ISERE, France – Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway easily protected his lead from the first run to win the opening World Cup slalom race of the season on Sunday, beating Marcel Hirscher of Austria by 1.09 seconds and taking the first round in what promises to be a fascinating contest for the overall slalom title.

Lindsey Vonn scored her 71st World Cup victory Saturday on a wind-shortened course in Are, Sweden.

Her combine time of 2 minutes, 4.70 seconds was 0.007 faster than Eva-Maria Brem of Austria.

“I was watching some video from that win last night and I have a lot of confidence coming into this race from Lake Louise”, Vonn said.

“I hope both of them are OK”, Vonn said.

“I am flying home tomorrow for a complete evaluation”, Shiffrin posted to her Facebook page.

The first racer, Sara Hector of Sweden had to stop halfway through her run due to a knee injury.

“This is a serious injury with a long rehab process and Sara will need to undergo surgery in the next few days”, said national team doctor Per Liljeholm. “We can’t afford to lose any more athletes”. She celebrated her first-run lead by raising her left pole and pumping her fist.

Slovakian Vlhova failed to read the script, though, and was able to savour what was her finest hour by ensuring Hansdotter had to settle for a second-placed finish, which moved her above Shiffrin in the slalom standings.