Mikaela Shiffrin is having a holiday season to remember – dominating the slopes with a flawless slalom record and enjoying precious family moments as the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics draw closer.
The 30-year-old American skiing icon heads into Christmas with plenty of cheer, having secured victories in all four World Cup slalom events this Olympic season. Her commanding performances include massive winning margins – averaging 1.5 seconds – and quick recoveries from any mid-run mistakes, showcasing the mental resilience she’s built after overcoming major crashes in recent years.
“This season, I’ve been able to deliver top-level skiing in high-pressure situations,” Shiffrin shared. “It looks easy from the outside with big leads, but every start feels brand new. I’ve dug deep to find that quality – it’s exhausting, but rewarding.”
Amid the festive break, Shiffrin is prioritizing family, spending quality time with her mother and longtime coach Eileen Shiffrin, who has been her unwavering support system throughout her career. The tight-knit bond between Mikaela and Eileen – a former nurse turned full-time mentor – remains a cornerstone of her success, helping propel her to a record 105 World Cup wins.
Shiffrin’s holiday joy echoes her playful podium moments earlier this season, like posing with Santa Claus in Levi, Finland – a fun tradition that perfectly captures her festive spirit.
Post-Christmas, the action ramps up as Shiffrin heads to Semmering, Austria – a venue where she’s triumphed seven times, including back-to-back triple-win weekends in 2016 and 2022. This time, a giant slalom on Saturday and slalom on Sunday await, where she’s aiming to extend her five-race slalom win streak (dating back to last season).
Progress is evident in other events too. Despite no giant slalom podium since her severe crash last year in Killington – which caused deep abdominal injuries – Shiffrin has notched two fourth-place finishes this season. She also tested super-G in St. Moritz, marking her return to speed events after a near-two-year hiatus from a downhill crash in Cortina.
“Super-G is a major goal, even beyond the Olympics,” Shiffrin said, eyeing potential starts in up to four events at Milan-Cortina: slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and the team combined (where she defended her world title last season with Breezy Johnson).
With two Olympic golds already in her collection, Shiffrin could even team up with legend Lindsey Vonn for a “Dream Team” in the combined – a thrilling prospect as Vonn continues her comeback at 41.
As the skiing world holds its breath for the Games, this Christmas offers Shiffrin a heartfelt pause to recharge with loved ones. Wishing Mikaela, Eileen, and the Shiffrin family a joyful, peaceful holiday filled with love and laughter! ❤️
