As the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season launches with a giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, this Saturday, Mikaela Shiffrin has shared her vision for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign, emphasizing her preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
The 30-year-old from Edwards, Colorado, widely regarded as the greatest Alpine skier of all time, boasts an unparalleled resume: 101 World Cup victories across all six disciplines, surpassing all others by a wide margin, and a record 157 podium finishes, eclipsing Ingemar Stenmark’s mark last March. Add to that 15 world championship medals, five overall crystal globes, and 11 discipline-specific titles.
Yet, when it comes to the Olympics—the quadrennial spectacle that captivates casual viewers—Shiffrin’s dominance hasn’t been as absolute. With two golds from three appearances, she acknowledges a sense of incompleteness. During a Wednesday press conference, she reflected, “I feel aged,” describing herself as wiser but humbled by the vastness of knowledge yet to grasp.
Uncertainty looms large for Shiffrin as the season starts. Questions swirl about her pursuit of the overall title, potential super-G races, her mental well-being, the comeback of key competitor Petra Vlhova after a nearly two-year absence, and her Olympic mindset. Will she adjust her peak performance strategy for the Games?
Shiffrin explained that few racers prioritize Olympics over consistent World Cup results, noting, “Strong World Cup performances build momentum, confidence, and skill heading into the Olympics.” However, she recognizes that public opinion often hinges on Olympic outcomes.
“It’s challenging to navigate that expectation while staying true to your athletic priorities,” she said. Shiffrin views the Olympics as a global stage to spotlight skiing but laments that many viewers miss the deeper context of athletes’ journeys during the intense two-week event.
Reflecting on her medal-less 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she failed to finish three events, Shiffrin told Olympics.com she aims not for redemption but for reconciliation. “It’s about finding peace,” she said.
Her strategy reflects maturity: focusing on three events—slalom, giant slalom (GS), and team combined—at the 2026 Games. While tying Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s six overall World Cup titles is appealing, Shiffrin remains pragmatic about her current form.
“I’m as driven as ever, but realistic—I’m not entering the season at my peak,” she said. “I’ll approach it race by race, seeking improvements each time.”
A major focus is rebuilding her GS confidence after a November crash in Killington that caused an abdominal injury and triggered PTSD-like symptoms. Her late-season returns were shaky: 25th in Sestriere, a missed second run the next day, and a DNF in Are.
Shiffrin described the recovery as a profound process, shifting from a “mind-body disconnect” to controlled progress. Summer training, including a June camp at Copper Mountain, emphasized GS, exposing her to high speeds and tactics. “It’s ongoing work,” she added.
Her team arrived in Europe earlier this fall, allowing for what Shiffrin called one of her strongest pre-Sölden preparations in years. Recent sessions tackled rough conditions like ruts and tracks, preparing her for potential high bib numbers after last season’s absences.
Post-Sölden, the circuit heads to Levi, Finland, for a November 15 slalom, then another in Austria on November 23. Shiffrin then returns home for the Stifel Copper Cup at Copper Mountain, racing GS and slalom on November 29 and 30.
She expressed enthusiasm for U.S. events: “I was disappointed to miss Beaver Creek last year but thrilled for my teammates. Copper this year will be special—hosting races here is vital.”
Meanwhile, her fiancé, Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, eyes a return at Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey after a harrowing January 2024 crash in Wengen that caused severe leg and shoulder injuries, complicated by infections and sepsis.
“It’s not my story, but I’m unsure how I’ll handle it—it’s thrilling, intense, and emotional,” Shiffrin said of his comeback.
