It was a moment straight out of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world for a young Mikaela Shiffrin.
At just 11 years old, the future Olympic skiing superstar and record-breaking alpine champion visited Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont with her family. They were mainly scouting the prestigious ski-focused private school for her older brother Taylor, a talented skier himself.
But for Mikaela, the trip felt like stepping onto Platform 9¾ and awaiting the Sorting Hat’s verdict.
“She told me it was kind of like out of ‘Harry Potter,’ where they’re doing the Sorting Hat,” recalled Kirk Dwyer, the academy’s former headmaster and one of Shiffrin’s most influential coaches. “And she’s saying, ‘Choose Burke! Choose Burke! Choose Burke!’”
In the books, the enchanted Sorting Hat places Hogwarts students into one of four houses based on their traits. Here, young Shiffrin was mentally cheering for the magical hat — or in reality, her parents — to pick Burke Mountain Academy as her perfect fit.
Her parents listened… and chose Burke.
Shiffrin quickly became the school’s own “Potter,” thriving under Dwyer’s guidance, whom she credits for shaping her during a crucial phase of her skiing development. Dwyer, often likened to a “Dumbledore on skis” or her “snow Yoda,” played a pivotal role in turning her raw talent into world-class dominance.
Today, Shiffrin is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the most successful alpine skier in history, with a legacy built on that early “sorting” moment.
The heartwarming story emerged as part of NBC’s “Launching Legends” series, where Olympians receive surprise visits from childhood mentors ahead of major events like the upcoming Winter Games.
Who knew a Hogwarts vibe could launch one of skiing’s greatest legends? 🧙♀️⛷️
