Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin has disclosed that a meaningful conversation with Slovakian skiing star Petra Vlhová was the catalyst for launching her new YouTube podcast, which explores life and personal growth beyond competitive skiing.
The American icon, holder of a record 101 World Cup victories, shared the revelation on her podcast’s Instagram account in response to Vlhová’s recent post celebrating her return to training. Shiffrin reposted the update with a message of support, writing: “A conversation with Petra last year was really the driving force behind the creation of this podcast. We’re cheering for you, Petra!!!
The podcast, released biweekly, features in-depth discussions on topics ranging from mental resilience to life outside sport. Shiffrin’s initiative reflects her growing interest in storytelling and athlete advocacy, areas she has increasingly embraced in recent years.
Vlhová, the 2022 Olympic slalom gold medalist, has been sidelined since suffering a severe knee injury—tearing her ACL and meniscus—in a crash during a giant slalom race in Jasná, Slovakia, in January 2024. After two surgeries and a prolonged recovery, she recently shared images of herself back on snow, signaling progress toward a competitive return.
Shiffrin herself overcame a significant crash in November 2024 during a giant slalom in Killington, Vermont, before surging to surpass the century mark in World Cup wins later that season.
Speaking ahead of the 2025–26 campaign, Shiffrin described a productive off-season focused on physical rebuilding and personal rejuvenation. In remarks to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), she said: “I’ve regained a lot of my strength, especially in my core… It’s been busy, but yeah, it’s been good.” She also spent quality time with family and fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde in Norway.
The 30-year-old opened her season with a fourth-place finish in the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, on October 25—just shy of the podium but a strong indicator of her form.
As Shiffrin balances elite competition with new creative pursuits, her acknowledgment of Vlhová’s influence underscores a spirit of mutual respect between two of alpine skiing’s fiercest rivals and most accomplished athletes.
