Crans-Montana, Switzerland • Mikaela Shiffrin is definitely back.
Two perfect runs saw the American win a women's World Cup slalom by almost a half-second on Monday in her first race after two months out with injury.
Crossing the line smiling after her second run, Shiffrin turned to look at the timings board then put her head in her hands at the realization she had won.
"I came in blind a little bit," she said. "I knew my training skiing was some of the best I was doing but I just wasn't sure. It was kind of close your eyes and go, see what happens at the end of the run.
"I didn't know what to expect from the rest of the girls. I was just watching on television and wasn't sure of the pace. I could see it but it's different from being there."
It was Shiffrin's first race since tearing a ligament in her right knee in December. The Olympic and world slalom champion started skiing again only two weeks ago.
Shiffrin won two slaloms in Aspen, Colo., and both by big margins, before the training mishap in Sweden. She has won her last six slaloms stretching back to last season.
This was Shiffrin's 18th win on the circuit, moving her level with Tamara McKinney for the second-most wins by an American woman. She turns 21 next month.
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, leans on her skis as she celebrates after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, celebrates after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, right, celebrates with second placed France's Nastasia Noens after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, speeds down the course on her way to win an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, smiles on the podium after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, center, winner of an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, poses on the podium with second placed France's Nastasia Noens, left, and third placed Canada's Marie-Michele Gagnon, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, speeds down the course on her way to win an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. celebrates during the podium ceremony after winning the women's Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. celebrates during the podium ceremony after winning the women's Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)
Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. speeds down the course during the second run of the women's Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. Shiffrin won the slalom event. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. speeds down the course during the second run of the women's Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. Shiffrin won the slalom event. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
