Shiffrin, the brilliant 22-year-old American Alpine skier, succumbed Friday to the self-imposed weight of becoming the first repeat Olympic slalom champion. Four years ago, the 18-year-old Shiffrin won slalom gold at the Sochi Olympics then brashly said she was aiming for five golds in 2018. One by one her two strongest events, the giant slalom and slalom, were pushed back. Finally, three days after the giant slalom was scheduled, she won it. On Thursday, even after winning giant slalom, Shiffrin began paring back expectations.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 16, 2018 05:26 UTC