Mikaela Shiffrin has reigned as the most decorated skier in history, but that was not something she dreamed of as a child. Shiffrin is headed to the giant slalom race in Kronplatz, Italy, en route to the Winter Olympics in February.
Shiffrin stands atop the slalom standings after extending her win tally to 67 and her overall World Cup win mark to 107. She is leading the Crystal Globe chase this season.
Mikaela Shiffrin Shares That She Didn’t Dream of Becoming the ‘GOAT’
Shiffrin was pursuing her 100th win when she suffered a frightening crash in a giant slalom race during the 2024-25 season. After surgery and rehabilitation, she bounced back, surpassed the 100-win mark, but missed out on the overall title. The first skier to surpass Ingemar Stenmark’s win tally, Shiffrin entered the 2025-26 season as the clear favorite.
She has delivered excellence since the start of the season, maintaining a winning streak in slalom until Camille Rast pushed her to second place in Kranjska Gora. The 30-year-old regained her rhythm in Flachau as the Winter Olympics approach.
Ahead of the Kronplatz giant slalom, the 107-time World Cup winner shared her thoughts on her GOAT status, saying she never dreamed of becoming the most successful skier in history but simply wanted to be the best skier in the world. She also expressed gratitude to those who supported her throughout her skiing career.
“Most of the time when people use the term ‘GOAT’ and my name together, I just, I really literally think of the animal screaming,” she said. “And when I was a little girl, I dreamed of being the best ski racer in the world. I didn’t necessarily think about being one of the best ski racers in history, so it’s pretty, you know, far beyond my wildest dreams, and I have a team of a lot of incredible people to thank for their support along the way.”
View this post on Instagram
Shiffrin recently opened up about the crash she suffered in November and her return toward the end of the season, when she won a couple more races, an achievement that stood as a testament to her resilience. In conversation with Women’s Health magazine, she shared that she has been focusing heavily on strength and coordination to reach her maximum potential.
She also emphasized that starting from the ground level and building a strong foundation will allow her to continue progressing, as “the sky is the limit.” Beyond skiing, the 30-year-old works closely with her eponymous foundation, endorses several brands, and enjoys downtime with her fiancé, Aleksander Kilde.
