Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin laid bare the raw emotion behind her record-breaking career in a candid exclusive interview with ServusTV On, revealing that even the quiet reflection of her greatest moments often ends in tears.
“Normally I start crying,” the American alpine skiing superstar confessed when asked how she processes the magnitude of her 99 World Cup victories and five overall Crystal Globes. The admission, delivered with her trademark blend of humility and intensity, offered viewers an unfiltered glimpse into the psychological weight carried by the most successful skier in history.
Shiffrin, 30, sat down with ServusTV’s winter-sports team just days before the 2025/26 World Cup season opener in Sölden. The conversation quickly turned personal as she discussed life beyond the finish line—particularly the dramatic comeback of her partner, Norwegian speed specialist Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
Kilde, who suffered a dislocated shoulder and severe lacerations in a terrifying crash at Wengen in January 2024, returned to the World Cup circuit last month with a podium in the Beaver Creek downhill. Shiffrin’s eyes lit up describing the moment she watched him cross the line.
“To see him ski like that again—fast, fearless, smiling—it was everything,” she said. “He’s proof that the mountain can break you, but it can’t define you.”
The couple’s shared journey through injury and rehabilitation has become one of alpine skiing’s most compelling narratives. Shiffrin, who herself battled back from a 2023 knee injury that sidelined her for the world championships, credited Kilde’s resilience for reigniting her own competitive fire.
“We lean on each other,” she explained. “When one of us is down, the other remembers why we do this. It’s not just about the trophies—it’s about proving to yourself you still belong.”
Looking ahead, Shiffrin confirmed she will chase her 100th victory in Sölden later this month, adding that equaling Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record of 86 wins in a single discipline (slalom) remains a quiet obsession. Yet she was quick to temper expectations with perspective.
“Numbers are fun, but they don’t hug you at night,” she laughed. “The people, the memories, the tears—those are the real prizes.”
The full 18-minute interview, filmed against the snow-capped Dachstein massif, is now streaming exclusively on ServusTV On. Viewers can expect never-before-heard stories from Shiffrin’s childhood in Colorado, her evolving rivalry with Petra Vlhová, and a playful prediction for Kilde’s medal chances at the 2026 Cortina World Championships.
As the gates drop on another alpine season, one truth shines brighter than any Crystal Globe: behind every champion’s smile lies a river of tears—and for Mikaela Shiffrin, that is precisely what keeps her racing.
