MERIBEL, France (AP) — American skier Mikaeala Shiffrin has decided to split from her longtime head coach, Mike Day, during the middle of the world championships.
“After working with Mike Day for seven seasons, I’ve decided to move forward with new leadership on my team for the next phase of my career,” Shiffrin said in a statement released by the U.S. ski team Wednesday. “I want to thank Mike and acknowledge all of his work and dedication over the last several years.”
The announcement was made a day before Shiffrin was due to compete in the giant slalom at worlds.
She already won a silver medal in super-G last week before leaving Meribel for some off-site training.
Shiffrin is also in the middle of a record-breaking season on the World Cup circuit, having eclipsed Lindsey Vonn’s record of 82 World Cup wins among women and moved within one victory of Ingemar Stenmark’s overall mark of 86 wins.
The silver in super-G ended a troublesome run for Shiffrin in major races after she straddled a gate during the slalom run of the combined event in her opening race at worlds and didn’t win a medal in any of her six races at last year’s Beijing Olympics.
“Mikaela Shiffrin will be moving forward with new coaching, and will continue to be supported closely by the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team coaches for the remainder of the season and in the future,” the team said in a statement. “The team thanks Mike Day for his work and great success over the last seven years.”
Shiffrin will also compete in the slalom at worlds on Saturday before returning to the World Cup circuit.
Day led Shiffrin’s individual team within the U.S. squad. Shiffrin’s team is also led by her mother, Eileen, who has coached the skier her entire life.
Paul Kristofic is the head coach of the overall U.S. women’s team.
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