With Lindsey Vonn out, Mikaela Shiffrin will be the Face of U.S. Women’s Skiing at Sochi Olympics

U.S. medal hopes in alpine skiing at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia took a big hit when defending women’s downhill gold medalist Lindsey Vonn announced that continuing issues with her surgically repaired knee will keep her from competing at the games next month.  Vonn is by far the most recognizable skier on the women’s alpine team (and for many people, either team) but an emerging star on the team will now take center stage.

A Vermont native, Mikaela Shiffrin is just 18 years old and in her first Olympics, but she has probably the best chance to win a medal of any of the women’s alpine skiers.  Shiffrin competes in the slalom and giant slalom, and is the defending World Cup champion in the slalom. She has competed in three slaloms on the circuit this season, winning two and finishing second in the other. The talented Ms. Shiffrin has a strong work ethic well beyond her years and could be one of the breakthrough athletes for the U.S. team.  Here she is in action: