Mikaela Shiffrin has given insight into her mindset and focus as she seeks redemption at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 30-year-old will be determined to add to her Olympic medal tally at the Milano-Cortina Games.
As someone who has already achieved nearly everything there is to achieve in the sport of alpine ski racing, Shiffrin heads into the 2026 Winter Olympics with plenty of motivation after failing to win a medal at the 2022 Games in Beijing.
Mikaela Shiffrin on the Changes She Is Making As She Eyes Olympic Gold
In an interview with the Washington Post, Shiffrin shared that she is working on her communication skills with her team and trying to be more open with them. The Colorado native also spoke about the “honest conversations” she has had with her team, which have helped them bond.
“I’ve been working a lot on communication skills and trying to help discuss with my team where I’m at mentally, especially heading into the season and the Olympics. We’ve had some good, open, honest conversations, which has been a little bit of bonding in a way that I’ve never had with a team before,” Shiffrin said.
“I’m pretty open. I’ll tell them when I’m on my menstrual cycle, all that stuff. But I’ve never really fully let them into my psychology, and it’s more heavy this year than it’s ever been in the past because of Beijing,” she added.
Shiffrin will be the top medal hope for Team USA in alpine ski racing. She has two Olympic gold medals to her name (Slalom in 2014, Giant Slalom in 2018). She also won silver in the Combined at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Shiffrin’s 2026 Record Ahead of the Winter Olympics
Shiffrin has been enjoying a stellar 2026 season and will go into the Winter Olympics with momentum on her side. She has participated in 18 races so far this season and has seven wins to her name. Shiffrin has also had one second-place and one third-place finish this season.
All seven of her wins have come in the Slalom. Her record in the discipline stands at 7 wins and 1 second-place finish in 8 races, leaving her primed to make a big impact at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
READ MORE: ‘They Are Very Uncomfortable’ — Mikaela Shiffrin Gets Brutally Honest About Ski Racing Boots
In Cortina, Shiffrin will face tough competition from Camille Rast, Emma Aicher, and Wendy Holdener. But the Team USA star will no doubt fancy her chances of overcoming the challenge and ending her medal drought at the Olympic level.
