MERIBEL, France—American skier Mikaela Shiffrin won the gold medal in the women’s giant slalom at the world championships on Thursday, a day after her unexpected split with longtime coach Mike Day.
Shiffrin overcame a mistake near the end of the race to hold on to her first-run lead. When she saw her time, she covered her mouth with her hands, then collapsed to the snow in joy, relief, and celebration.
She stayed there for a few moments, breathing heavily from the exertion of her run.
Italian skier Federica Brignone, who was 0.12 seconds behind to take the silver, and Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway, who trailed by 0.22 for the bronze, came over to congratulate her….