Fresh from her gold-medal triumph in women’s slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics, American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin opened up about the harsh reality behind the glory during a candid appearance on Kylie Kelce’s podcast “Not Gonna Lie.”
In the episode released February 22, 2026, Shiffrin recounted receiving direct messages from fans telling her she “wasn’t welcomed back” in the United States, even as she stood on the podium. The 30-year-old shared the story while discussing the “darker side” of Olympic fame, tracing the negativity back to her experiences at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
“I was like, you guys know I just won a medal, but I was seeing all these comments like, ‘Don’t come home. You’re not welcome in the U.S. anymore,'” Shiffrin revealed to host Kylie Kelce, according to reports from Bleacher Report and podcast clips circulating online.
The toxic messages, which included outright rejection of her return to American soil, highlighted the intense scrutiny and backlash athletes can face—even champions. Shiffrin explained that similar online vitriol had influenced her mindset heading into the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where external pressures compounded the challenges of competing during the COVID-19 era.
Despite the hate, Shiffrin’s latest Olympic performance was a resounding redemption. Her dominant slalom run ended an eight-year individual medal drought, cementing her status as one of the greatest alpine skiers in history. Yet the podcast conversation underscored how success doesn’t shield athletes from cruelty.
The episode also featured lighter moments, including banter about viral claims that Shiffrin and Kelce look like twins, with the pair laughing off the lookalike memes and debating whether they should “roll as siblings.” Shiffrin called the comparison “the best compliment I’ve gotten in a while,” while the two bonded over shared experiences in the public eye.
Shiffrin’s willingness to address the negativity head-on resonated with fans and fellow athletes alike. In an era where social media amplifies both praise and poison, her story serves as a stark reminder of the mental toll behind the medals. As she continues competing in Milano Cortina, Shiffrin proves that true resilience isn’t just about conquering the mountain—it’s about rising above the noise that tries to keep you from coming home.
