Camille Rast seizes victory at Killington slalom after Mikaela Shiffrin's injury

On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Switzerland's Camille Rast achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the Killington slalom, marking her first victory in the alpine World Cup. This event took place against a competitive backdrop and was influenced by the absence of American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who was sidelined due to injuries sustained during a previous competition. Rast, who entered the final run in third place, delivered an outstanding second leg performance, clocking in at 52.88 seconds and achieving a total time of 1 minute and 46.87 seconds. Her impressive victory showcased her talent and determination, especially considering that her competitors, Anna Swenn Larsson from Sweden and Switzerland's Wendy Holdener, finished in a tie just 57 hundredths of a second behind her. The absence of Mikaela Shiffrin was a significant factor in the race's outcome. Shiffrin, who has won six slaloms at Killington, suffered a puncture wound and severe muscle trauma after a severe crash in the previous day’s giant slalom event. Her condition was serious enough to require her removal from the course on a sled, but scans indicated that her bones and internal organs appeared to be undamaged, and there was no ligament damage. However, the uncertainty around her recovery has the ski community speculating on her return to competition and her bid for a landmark 100th World Cup victory. The results at Killington have left the women's alpine ski racing schedule in turmoil, as planned events at Tremblant, Canada, were canceled due to a lack of snow. This cancellation adds more unpredictability to an already complicated season, particularly with the prospect of top racers like Shiffrin potentially missing more competitions as they recover from injuries. The ski community is eager to see how these developments will impact the season going forward, particularly for emerging athletes like Rast who are capitalizing on opportunities presented by their competitors' setbacks. Overall, Camille Rast's victory at Killington not only signifies her arrival on the World Cup stage but also opens new conversations about the implications of injuries in sports and the remarkable unpredictability of competitive alpine skiing.