Mikaela Shiffrin has made a surprising decision for the 2025 Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. She has withdrawn from the giant slalom and will compete in the team event instead. Shiffrin will partner with downhill world champion Breezy Johnson, while Lindsey Vonn will not be part of the team.

Shiffrin Opens Up About Mental Struggles

Shiffrin shared her decision on Instagram, revealing that a severe crash in Killington left her battling post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite dedicating months to giant slalom training, she admitted that fear now clouds her confidence.

“It was heartbreaking to realize how much fear I now feel for a discipline I loved just months ago,” she wrote. Instead, she will focus on the team event.

Teaming Up with Breezy Johnson

Shiffrin will compete with Breezy Johnson, who recently won the downhill world title. Johnson, who served a 14-month doping ban last year, invited Shiffrin to join Team USA’s pursuit of gold.

“I’m honored to compete with Breezy,” Shiffrin said. “We share a strong history together.”

Mixed Reactions and German Team Struggles

Lindsey Vonn, eager to race with Shiffrin, was disappointed by her withdrawal. Meanwhile, the German speed team, led by Romed Baumann, faced sharp criticism after poor championship performances. Their head coach called their efforts “truly poor.”