Fan favorite and Olympic champion, Mikaela Shiffrin, faltered in her second straight race on Wednesday in the Beijing games, and was clearly disappointed, skiing to the side of the course and sitting down for several minutes devastated by her performance.
And NBC coverage captured the experience with the commentators emphasizing the scene.
This lead to social media erupting in support for Shiffrin, and blasting the network for their approach, which many believe is the main cause for mental health problems among high profile athletes today.
In recent months, stars like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles have withdrawn from major events, citing strain to their mental health.
You can read some of the tweets below. Shiffrin was trending at the top of Twitter Tuesday night after the race.
nbc talking about all the pressure being put on mikaela shiffrin pic.twitter.com/okccdgHpVo
— Sam Nowaczewski (@SamNowaczewski) February 9, 2022
Me watching Mikaela Shiffrin after that run: I hope that girl isn't too hard on herself.
The Announcers: What a mistake. What a disappointment. This will live in infamy for the rest of time.
We have literally not moved the needle on mental health at all. #OlympicGames
— Elina Rudkovsky (@bklinz) February 9, 2022
Already dreading the Mikaela Shiffrin interview tonight. Hey NBC: just skip it. Leave her the hell alone.
— noah_t is MASKEDXVAXXED THRICE AF (@iheartmaths) February 9, 2022
the olympics really don’t have to show mikaela shiffrin sad on the side of the course for 5 minutes like i promise it’s okay to leave her alone
— male wife collector (@male_wife) February 9, 2022
The media has hounded Mikaela Shiffrin about her anxiety, the death of her father, and about the pressure on her. And now they act shocked that she’s human. #Olympics
— Camilla (@Camilla_33) February 9, 2022
NBC learned absolutely nothing from Simone Biles and now they are doing the SAME thing to Mikaela Shiffrin and it’s infuriating.
— Alex (@alexmichelle31) February 9, 2022
At some point The US Olympic Committee and NBC need to examine the outsized promotional campaigns they put on our top athletes.
Nathan Chen in 2018
Simone Biles in 2020
Now Mikaela Shiffrin in 2022It’s not a coincidence.
— George Clark (@GeorgeVClark) February 9, 2022
The cameras staying on Mikaela Shiffrin for this long after the media putting extensive pressure on her prior to the games shows they didn’t learn shit from Simone Biles
— David Rotenberg (@ACW00DY) February 9, 2022
Hey nbc maybe don’t continually air a closeup of mikaela shiffrin crying?? Just a thought
— Ardipethicus ramidus (Taylor’s Version) (@ceceliaj0) February 9, 2022
I blame NBC for whatever is going on with Mikaela Shiffrin.
— Mike Salony (@mikesalony) February 9, 2022
Seriously #NBC, wtf. A shot of Mikaela Shiffrin in shock, ok. Literally several minutes of cameras on her sitting there even as commercials play split-screen – exploitative. She’s a pro who messed up. #leaveMikaelaAloneNBC #NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/MrWPQrv3bI
— Quoth the Raven (@mrkruk) February 9, 2022
The way these commentators are talking about Mikaela Shiffrin’s mistake is making me so fucking mad.
— Dachelpie🍕 (@iheart_dachel) February 9, 2022
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