Mikaela Shiffrin shared how she has been constantly pursuing her goals of achieving the best skiing performance that matches the image of her top form. The 30-year-old will head to the slalom and giant slalom events in Kranjska Gora, scheduled for January 3-4, 2026.
Shiffrin stands on top of the slalom and overall standings, en route to the Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
Mikaela Shiffrin Reveals What Drives Her To Continue in Alpine Skiing
Shiffrin became a global phenomenon at a young age and reached the peak of her career when she surpassed Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 World Cup wins. Last season, despite suffering an abdominal puncture and being sidelined for 11 races, the two-time Olympic gold medalist surpassed the 100-win mark and continues to hold her momentum in 2025/26 as well.
Aiming for her sixth straight slalom win in Kranjska Gora, the American appeared in a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team campaign, chronicling her journey through the ongoing season as she continues to defy belief. In the video’s voiceover, Shiffrin revealed that winning and podium finishes do not motivate her; rather, it is the pursuit of the perfect ski performance, one that aligns with her vision, that drives her.
“I want to improve. There’s an image I have of my best skiing, and I want to get better than that. And then it’s It’s all very repetitive and monotonous, and that’s the name of the game,” she said.
She further shared that she constantly aims for the run she believes she can achieve, which would represent her best showing.
“I’m just trying to connect my feeling with what I’m actually doing as close as I can. And when those two things match completely, that’s the best I’ve ever skied. And that’s the most incredible feeling to have.”
Shiffrin has 106 World Cup wins on her résumé, a feat no one has ever achieved and one that will be extremely difficult to replicate.
Shiffrin’s Latest Slalom Win in Semmering Was Not a Pleasant One
Shiffrin was coming off an undefeated slalom season when she took the slopes in Semmering, Austria. Despite struggling to post a win in the first run, the 30-year-old capped off the campaign with a historic victory after her second run. However, she was not pleased with the surface conditions, which disrupted the races of many skiers.
She said the slope was unstable as a result of decision-makers injecting salt and water to harden the surface. She urged athletes, coaches, FIS, and national governing bodies to work together to implement measures that ensure safety.
