Mikaela Shiffrin, the alpine skiing icon with 97 World Cup victories, is approaching this weekend’s 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup opener in Sölden with uncharacteristic caution. The American star, sidelined for much of the preseason by an injury, admitted to reporters Wednesday that she does not see herself as a favorite for the season’s first giant slalom on Saturday, October 25. “There are a lot of uncertainties at the moment,” Shiffrin said, signaling a measured mindset as she returns to the Rettenbach Glacier. A comeback in the parallel event, or “exit,” is also firmly off the table for now.
Shiffrin’s tempered outlook follows a disrupted preparation period, with a puncture wound sustained during last season’s Killington giant slalom in November 2024 forcing her to miss critical training time. The injury, which kept her out for two months, derailed her rhythm and contributed to a third-place finish in the 2024/25 overall World Cup standings—a rare step back for the five-time overall champion. “I feel as motivated as ever, but I also feel realistic about the position I’m in right now,” she told media in Sölden, acknowledging the challenges of regaining her edge in a stacked field.
The Sölden giant slalom, set to kick off at 10:00 CET, marks the starting gun for a season steeped in Olympic anticipation, with the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games looming. Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has a storied history on this glacier, claiming victories in 2014 and 2021 and landing four additional podiums. Yet, with her preseason curtailed, she’s downplaying her chances against a formidable lineup. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, a four-time Sölden winner, and New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, fresh off a silver at the 2025 Saalbach Worlds, are among those poised to capitalize. Sweden’s Sara Hector, the 2022 Olympic GS champion, further deepens the competition with her consistent podium form.
Adding to the narrative, Italy’s Federica Brignone, last season’s overall champion, will miss Sölden due to a fractured leg and ACL tear sustained in preseason, opening the door for others to seize early momentum. Shiffrin, however, is focused inward, prioritizing technical races—slalom and giant slalom—over speed events. She’s ruled out downhill for the Olympics and remains undecided on super-G, with a planned test in St. Moritz in mid-December to guide her decision. Her provisional schedule includes up to 16 technical races, with stops in Levi and Copper Mountain, where she’ll lean on her unmatched precision.
Despite her self-professed uncertainties, Shiffrin’s resilience shines through. Reflecting on last season’s setbacks, she’s leaned into vulnerability, openly discussing mental health struggles and the growth that followed. “Sharing, speaking, and connecting with others about my life and experiences has helped me immensely,” she said earlier this month, crediting those conversations for her renewed perspective. Her U.S. teammates, including world downhill champion Breezy Johnson and rising star Lauren Macuga, bolster her confidence, with the squad’s depth in speed events drawing praise as “stacked.”
Shiffrin’s decision to skip the parallel event—an “exit” format not currently on her radar—underscores her strategic focus on conserving energy for the grueling season ahead. With her partner, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, targeting a December return from his own injury, Shiffrin draws added motivation from their shared comeback journey.
As Sölden’s glacier looms, broadcast access remains a talking point. Shiffrin has previously called for centralized media rights to boost the sport’s reach, and fans can catch Saturday’s race on Peacock in the U.S. or discovery+ and Eurosport globally. Environmental concerns about glacier racing and the World Cup’s travel-intensive schedule linger, but Shiffrin’s focus remains on the snow.
One victory shy of becoming the winningest skier in World Cup history outright, Shiffrin’s Sölden performance will set the tone for her Olympic season. While she may not see herself as the favorite, her competitors know the glacier has a way of coaxing out her brilliance. As the gates drop, the skiing world watches to see if Shiffrin’s uncertainties give way to her trademark magic.
