Mikaela Shiffrin, the renowned American alpine skier and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has opened up about her mindset as she prepares for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. In a candid interview featured on her YouTube channel, Shiffrin discussed the challenge of managing fear and excitement while aiming to bounce back from her disappointing performance at the 2022 Beijing Games.
At the Beijing Olympics, Shiffrin, then heavily favored in her signature events, suffered did-not-finish (DNF) results in both the slalom and giant slalom—races where she was expected to contend for gold. The 30-year-old athlete described the intense scrutiny and emotional toll that followed, noting how the massive viewership exposed a “dark side” of high-profile competition.
“I don’t want Beijing to be a reason that I feel fear going into Cortina,” Shiffrin emphasized. She acknowledged that the experience lingers in her mind but views it as part of the multifaceted nature of the Olympics. Rather than letting it define her, she aims to highlight the positive aspects: the competitive yet supportive spirit among athletes, the human connections, and the shared excitement across teams.
Shiffrin reflected on the diverse mental approaches athletes bring to the Games. “There isn’t a right or wrong mentality,” she said. “Athletes bring all different mentalities, all different shapes and sizes of energy and vibe going into the games.” She admitted to personal fears—some irrational, others very real—often tied to family health and loved ones rather than just sport. “I simply can’t push them into a box and forget they exist for three weeks,” she explained, underscoring the difficulty of compartmentalizing life during such intense periods.
Despite these challenges, Shiffrin expressed growing optimism. She described an overwhelming sense of excitement surrounding the U.S. team and athletes from all sports. “Being in this moment right now is a lot less nerve-wracking than how I expected it to be entering this season,” she shared. The thought of the upcoming Games even “gives me the shivers” in a positive way, evoking the beauty and humanity of the Olympic experience.
As one of the most decorated skiers in history, Shiffrin is determined to embrace the journey in Milano Cortina, focusing on performance, joy, and resilience rather than solely on medal expectations. Fans can catch all the action from the 2026 Winter Olympics, including Shiffrin’s events, live on platforms like TNT Sports and discovery+.
