Mikaela Shiffrin has provided insight on why it is unrealistic to expect the Olympic Games to provide the perfect setup for athletes to perform at their very best. The alpine ski racer has given an insight into why it is impossible for the Olympics to prioritize athlete performance.
Shiffrin is gearing up to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she will look to add to her already glittering medal tally. The 30-year-old won gold at both the 2014 and 2018 Games, but missed out on winning a medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Mikaela Shiffrin Shares Insight on Olympic Reality for Athletes
Shiffrin spoke about the reality of the Olympic Games from an athlete’s perspective and shared that the logistics of hosting thousands of athletes can mean performance is not always prioritized by organizers.
On her “What’s the Point” podcast, Shiffrin said, “Feeling like the Olympics are going to provide the perfect setup for you to be at your very best is not a realistic expectation, so let that one go. The Olympics are not designed for the comfort or to prioritize performance of the athletes and teams competing.”
“In the ideal world, it would be the most comfortable and performance-producing experience for athletes and teams,” Shiffrin added.
Shiffrin also pointed out that it is unrealistic to expect the Olympic Games to prioritize athlete performance.
“This is such a huge show with an unfathomable amount of logistics to organize. Milano Cortina will be hosting just under 3000 athletes from 90 different countries across 16 different sports at 15 different venues over the course of about a two-week period. It’s just not really possible to organize an event like that and to prioritize performance. So once I realized that, I felt so silly for ever having expected anything else,” she said.
Some events for the 2026 Winter Olympics are already underway, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday. The Games will conclude on Feb. 22.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s 2026 Winter Olympics Schedule
Shiffrin will be looking to add to her three medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. She is all set for a busy schedule at the Milano Cortina Games.
The Colorado native will get her Olympic campaign underway by taking part in the women’s team combined Slalom on Feb. 10, where she will team up with compatriot Breezy Johnson.
Next up for Shiffrin will be the women’s Giant Slalom, with the two runs set to take place on Feb. 15. The Team USA star will then compete in the Slalom on Feb. 18.
MORE: How Mikaela Shiffrin Sees Women Pushing the Limits of Competitive Skiing
Shiffrin is in fine form at the moment and goes to the Winter Olympics on the back of seven wins and two further podium positions in the FIS World Cup this season.
