Mikaela Shiffrin is proving she’s in peak condition for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and she let the world know with a jaw-dropping social media post showcasing an impressive “six-pack”—on her back.
The 30-year-old American alpine skiing superstar shared a short clip on Instagram of herself lying face down on a lounger, top rolled up to expose her bare back. By repeatedly tensing her muscles, Shiffrin highlighted the deeply defined erector spinae muscles along her spine, creating the striking illusion of a classic six-pack across her lower and mid-back.
The playful yet powerful display left fans amazed, with many praising her dedication and elite-level fitness as she gears up for multiple events at the Milano Cortina Games.
Shiffrin, widely regarded as one of the greatest skiers in history, will compete in the women’s team combined slalom, giant slalom, and slalom. She’s chasing history: three more Olympic podium finishes would tie her with Janica Kostelić and Anja Pärson for the most medals by a female alpine skier (six total).
Her journey to these Games comes after a strong recent result—a third-place finish in giant slalom at the World Cup in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, last month. It marked her first giant slalom podium in two years, boosting her confidence heading into Cortina.
“It’s been two years since I was on the podium in giant slalom—and more than one year since I believed I could be,” Shiffrin told ESPN. “It’s amazing for me.”
The Colorado native made her Olympic debut at Sochi 2014, becoming the youngest slalom gold medalist ever. She added giant slalom gold and combined silver in PyeongChang 2018, but left Beijing 2022 without a medal for the first time in her career after competing in six events.
Despite past back issues—she’s openly discussed dealing with them—her current strength is undeniable. The viral back-flex video underscores the intense training behind her success.
Meanwhile, Shiffrin isn’t the only American ski legend making headlines in Cortina: fellow icon Lindsey Vonn, 41, plans to race the downhill despite a recent ACL tear.
With the Olympics underway, Shiffrin’s blend of talent, resilience, and now-visible power has fans buzzing. If her back is this ripped, the slopes might not stand a chance.
