Alpine skiing-Slalom champ Shiffrin happy to be hunted at worlds (Reuters)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes BEAVER CREEK, Colorado, Feb 2 (Reuters) – American darling Mikaela Shiffrin said on Monday that she will embrace the weight of expectation when she defends her alpine ski world championship slalom title on home snow although she would prefer being the underdog. “I feel really well prepared and I love the fact that we’ve had almost a month to prepare for these races,” Shiffrin told a news conference in one of the many hotels scattered around the posh ski resort of Beaver Creek as the world championship opening ceremonies were about to get underway on Monday. We’ll see on race day … but I like to think I have the capability to win two gold medals here.” Two years ago, Shiffrin made a huge splash as an underdog when clinched the slalom crown at the world championships in Schladming before going on to become the youngest Olympic champion in that discipline at the 2014 Sochi Games. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and that takes the pressure off.” Shiffrin, who has displayed superb form on the World Cup circuit this season since making some technical adjustments in mid-December, relishes the prospect of competing for world championship glory in her home town.