As the Milan Winter Olympics approach, American alpine ski sensation Mikaela Shiffrin shared an engaging conversation with legendary gymnast Simone Biles. Their friendship has blossomed through years of mutual support, helping each other navigate the highs and lows of elite competition. Biles, celebrated as one of the greatest gymnasts ever, last dazzled the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she claimed three gold medals and a silver.
Shiffrin’s stellar season has made her a top contender for slalom gold in Milan. With three Olympic medals already, she is poised to add to her impressive legacy.
Mikaela Shiffrin and Simone Biles’ Heartfelt Interaction
After Paris, Biles stepped away from gymnastics to embrace life outside the arena. She has cheered on her husband, NFL star Jonathan Owens, at Chicago Bears games and explored new passions like ice skating, Pilates, and horseback riding-activities she once set aside for training.
On Shiffrin’s podcast, the pair discussed how they supported each other during their challenges – such as Biles’ “twisties” in Tokyo 2020 and Shiffrin’s DNFs in Beijing 2022 – with Biles saying how much she related to Shiffrin’s struggle. (43:55 onwards)
“You know, a lot of athletes have their ups and downs. But for the most part, in both of our careers, people couldn’t look at our wins, World Cups, and gold medals and say, “Oh, relatable” – they can’t relate to that. At that point [Tokyo] , I realized, “Okay, this is going to be a big defining moment for my career,” even though I didn’t want it to overshadow everything else I’d achieved. I knew people would relate to that moment.”
“Then, when it happened to you in 2022, I was watching and thought, “No, it’s happening.” I wanted to cry – I was so emotional because I saw myself in you. When you reached out to me, I felt exactly how you were feeling: stranded and isolated. I knew precisely what you were going through.” Biles said.
At the Tokyo Games, Biles under-rotated her signature vault, landing short after only 1.5 twists instead of 2.5. This gymnast-specific phenomenon caused disorientation, making further competition unsafe and risking serious injury. She withdrew from most events, such as the team final, all-around, vault, bars, and floor.
Shiffrin Reflects On Seventh Slalom Win Of The Season
Shiffrin’s most recent race saw her triumph in the women’s slalom at the FIS Alpine World Cup in Špindlerův Mlýn, Czech Republic, on January 25, 2026. Not only did she notch her seventh slalom victory of the season, but she also returned to the very venue where her World Cup journey began in 2011.
After the race, the American took to Instagram to share a message, expressing her happiness that she had come ‘full circle’. She also stated that Špindlerův Mlýn has a ‘special place’ in her heart.
Shiffrin is scheduled to compete next at the Milan Games, with events including the giant slalom (February 15), slalom (February 18), and team combined (February 10).
