American alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has broken her silence on the grueling injuries and mental battles that nearly derailed her legendary career, vowing to push forward in pursuit of Olympic glory at the Winter Games.
The 30-year-old, the most decorated skier in World Cup history with a record 108 victories, has spoken candidly about the freak puncture wound to her abdomen suffered in a November 2024 crash during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont. Chasing her milestone 100th win, Shiffrin collided with a gate, sustaining a severe piercing injury that left her in excruciating pain, bleeding, and requiring months of recovery—including surgery to repair the abdominal wall trauma.
The physical setback was compounded by profound psychological effects. Shiffrin has openly discussed struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath, revealing how the incident triggered panic and fear that lingered long after her body healed. “A little over a year ago, following my crash and injury in Killington, I couldn’t even imagine skiing giant slalom at this level again, let alone starting in the discipline at the Olympics,” she shared in recent reflections.
Despite the challenges—including earlier setbacks like MCL sprains, high-ankle issues, and the grief following her father’s death in 2020—Shiffrin staged an extraordinary comeback. She returned to top form this season, clinching additional podiums and victories, including a recent slalom win in the Czech Republic just weeks before the Games.
Now competing in her fourth Olympics, Shiffrin is channeling that resilience amid a mixed start in Milano Cortina. After finishing off the podium in the team combined event, she turned her focus to the technical disciplines where she has historically excelled: giant slalom—where she claimed gold in 2018—and slalom.
“I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” Shiffrin emphasized, highlighting the mental hurdles overcome to even line up for giant slalom again. “It’s pretty spectacular to have my World Cup podium again” after doubting a full return to speed and confidence.
With the giant slalom underway and slalom on the horizon, Shiffrin is positioned for potential redemption after a medal-less Beijing 2022. Her journey underscores not just athletic dominance but unbreakable determination in the face of adversity.
As #TeamUSA’s flagbearer for alpine excellence, Shiffrin’s pursuit continues to inspire fans worldwide. The mountains await her next chapter—proving once more why she’s among the greatest in the sport’s history. ❄️🔥
