With exactly 100 days until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin says she is approaching the Games with a renewed mindset, determined to move past the disappointment of Beijing 2022 while remaining cautiously open to expanding her event lineup.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who endured a medal-less campaign across six events in Beijing, told TNT Sports she is focusing on process over outcome as she prepares for what could be her final Olympic chapter.
“Beijing was very challenging—for so many reasons, so many variables,” Shiffrin reflected. “Off the slopes, there was a lot going on in my personal life. Now I want to go to Cortina with an open mind, excited. Of course I’m nervous—what if it goes wrong?—but you can’t control the outcome. You control what you bring to the hill.”
The 30-year-old American, who has since surpassed 100 World Cup victories, is considering a return to super-G—a discipline she contested in Beijing but has rarely prioritized in recent seasons. She plans to test her speed readiness in St. Moritz on December 14, though she ruled out downhill racing this winter.
“I still need proper super-G training days,” she said. “We’ll see how St. Moritz goes. It’s my own time trial, but I also have to fight for a starting spot with my teammates.”
Unlike past Olympic cycles, Shiffrin is not overhauling her preparation. Instead, she is making subtle adjustments—training intensely while being strategic about race selection to preserve energy and focus for giant slalom and slalom, her signature events.
“This season, with the Olympics, I’m more aware of where I spend my time,” she explained. “If I’m not in a strong position in super-G, I should focus on GS and slalom. Otherwise, it’s training as hard and as often as possible.”
Shiffrin’s resilience has been tested in recent years, including a serious crash in Killington last season and supporting fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde through his own lengthy injury recovery. Yet she remains motivated by past triumphs—particularly her breakthrough slalom gold in Sochi at age 18—and driven to add to her Olympic legacy.
“Every Olympic Games has been so different,” she said. “There are lessons in each one. I didn’t believe certain things were possible until after they happened. So now, I’m motivated but realistic.”
The Milano Cortina Games run February 6–22, 2026, with alpine skiing events in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Shiffrin opened her 2025–26 World Cup campaign with a fourth-place finish in giant slalom in Sölden last weekend, signaling strong early form.
As one of the most dominant athletes in winter sports history, Shiffrin’s journey to Italy will be watched closely—not just for medals, but for the perspective of a champion who has learned to embrace uncertainty.
