Mikaela Shiffrin, the all-time winningest Alpine ski racer, heads to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after recent successes in the Czech Republic. The 30-year-old American recently secured her ninth slalom season title and earned a podium in giant slalom. Those close to her describe her qualities in simple words amid her record-breaking journey.
Mikaela Shiffrin has built a storied career in Alpine skiing, overcoming injuries, doubts, and post-crash PTSD to become the sport's most successful racer. As she prepares for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, the Associated Press asked rivals, teammates, and family to distill what makes her exceptional in one or two words.
Shiffrin herself joked about her Olympic experiences, saying, “I’m not going to lie — the Olympics have been wonderful to me, and they’ve been like a mosquito as well,” referencing her medal-less 2022 Beijing Games. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety called her “textbook,” noting, “If you were to read a book on how you should ski, she executes it near flawlessly.”
Her recent form underscores this precision. On January 24, 2026, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Shiffrin finished third in the World Cup giant slalom, her first podium in the discipline in two years, building confidence after a November 2024 puncture wound in Vermont that caused PTSD. The next day, January 25, she won the slalom, clinching her ninth season title in the event—the first skier to achieve that in World Cup history.
Head coach Karin Harjo emphasized “persistence,” explaining, “Success takes persistence... the willingness to keep going even when you don’t feel like it.” Shiffrin's mother, Eileen, chose “kind,” citing her habit of signing autographs and gifting trophies to servicemen and hotel staff. Teammate Breezy Johnson described her as a “leader,” adding, “She’s an incredible leader but she’s never afraid to jump in the bilge and get water out of the hull.”
Shiffrin holds a record 108 World Cup wins, 24 more than Lindsey Vonn and 22 more than Ingemar Stenmark. Bode Miller called her “superlative,” saying, “Anybody who tries to make an argument that she’s not the best there’s ever been has some uphill sledding to do.” Her fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, praised her “consistency.” Off the slopes, she hosts the podcast “What’s the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin” and plays music, a passion shared with her late father, Jeff, who died in 2020.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt dubbed her the “ultimate role model on and off the snow.” Shiffrin even owns nine reindeer from Levi slalom victories, named after family, friends, and figures like Stenmark.
