In an intimate conversation, two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin shares her journey toward accepting fear and aiming for reconciliation at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. “I refuse to let my Beijing experiences fuel my Olympic anxieties,” the American skier told Olympics.com.
Discussing her musical tastes, Shiffrin expressed a preference for the deeper, introspective songs on Taylor Swift’s newest release. “The words and ideas really resonate with me,” she noted, opting for substance over superficial appeal.
Throughout her career, the alpine skiing sensation has peeled back layers of her character, blending humor with heartfelt introspection. “I’ve got more layers than you think—like a denser onion!” she quipped in an exclusive chat with Olympics.com during the Atomic Media Day event in Bergheim, Austria.
At 30, Shiffrin candidly discussed her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by a serious injury—a puncture wound—from her November race in Killington, Vermont.
She made her comeback after a two-month hiatus but faced ongoing challenges in shaking off her apprehensions, especially in giant slalom events. Through steady progress, the U.S. athlete is gearing up for the fresh season with bolstered psychological resilience. “I’ve gained deeper self-insight, and this past year’s ordeal echoed the grief I endured after losing my dad,” she confided.
Following the unexpected passing of her father, Jeff, in February 2020, Shiffrin took a break from racing and publicly addressed her mourning process.
“Back then, without professional therapy, I couldn’t grasp the reasons behind my reactions or the brain’s biochemical responses,” she said. “But last year, collaborating with a psychologist and delving into PTSD, unwanted thoughts, and these tangible mental health issues… it’s helped me grow more at ease with experiencing fear.”
This therapeutic path has sharpened her approach to racing.
“My goal is persistence: consistent training, gradual exposure to high-speed runs—and taking it one step at a time truly yields improvement,” the eight-time World Cup champion concluded.
