Alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics with a candid admission: she’s “not at winning speed” yet. Her journey back to peak form after a harrowing abdominal injury and earlier oblique injury has been a testament to her resilience, shifting her focus from immediate results to meticulous technical work, mental fortitude, and finding renewed enjoyment in the sport.
As the highly anticipated FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season kicked off on October 25, 2025, all eyes were on Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated skier in World Cup history. Just one week before hitting the slopes, the three-time Olympic medalist, now 30, shared an exclusive look into her current state of preparedness for the international circuit, which serves as a crucial prelude to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in February 2026.
“To be perfectly honest, right now I’m not at winning speed,” Shiffrin admitted, a statement that might come as a surprise from an athlete of her caliber. She acknowledged that such an admission can be a “tough pill to swallow” when heading into a new race season, but her transparency highlights a deeper, more intentional approach to her comeback.
The Long Road Back: Overcoming Injury and Mental Hurdles
Shiffrin’s recent journey has been one of significant challenges and triumphs. Her 2024/25 season, which saw her secure her 100th World Cup victory, was not without its setbacks. Early in that season, she battled an oblique injury, which forced a change in her focus from purely winning to making gradual progress. The American star explained to Olympic.com that coming back from this injury necessitated “separat[ing] from the result entirely and just focus[ing] on the little rewards throughout the day.”
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Mikaela Shiffrin competes in the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Slalom in Sestriere, Italy, on Feb. 23, 2025.
However, an even more severe incident struck her in November 2024 at the Stifel Killington Cup in Vermont. During a ski crash, Shiffrin suffered a life-threatening abdominal injury, requiring surgery after she was “stabbed” by a sharp object. The aftermath of this crash led to months of recovery and mental re-strengthening. In July 2025, she revealed she had been experiencing PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, a common challenge for athletes returning from traumatic injuries.
Her recovery strategy has been deeply personal and methodical:
- Time and Exposure: “I’ve been able to work through a lot of it, literally, just with time and exposure and repetition.”
- Repetition over Range: She prioritized more repetition in certain events to regain mental processing speed, even if it meant sacrificing training in other disciplines.
- Mental Preparedness: Significant improvements were made in her mental approach to racing over the summer, building confidence through training camps.
A New Perspective: Privilege Over Pressure
Despite her current assessment of not being at “winning speed,” Shiffrin emphasizes that this isn’t born from nervousness. Instead, she attributes it to “little technical things to keep working on.” Far from being an obstacle, this rhythm is part of her planned progression. “I’m excited to keep working on it, I’m excited to start the season,” she affirmed, highlighting her readiness to “kick out of the start gate” and gain crucial race experience.
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Mikaela Shiffrin.
Her pre-competition jitters are, in fact, viewed as an advantage. “I’m certainly nervous, too, which is good,” she noted. “It means we care, right?” This mindset shift is part of a broader evolution in her approach to elite competition, particularly as she eyes the 2026 Winter Olympics.
She aims to approach Milano Cortina 2026 with a fresh outlook, viewing it as “more of a privilege and more of an opportunity than it is pressure.” This perspective is crucial for an athlete who has consistently pushed the boundaries of alpine skiing, holding the record for the most World Cup victories by any skier, male or female. According to FIS-SKI.com, her relentless pursuit of excellence has redefined the sport, and this new focus on enjoyment and opportunity could unlock even greater performance.
The Path to Precision and Olympic Qualification
Shiffrin’s immediate plan involves dedicating the “next couple months” to honing her “precision” and “focus” on race day. She is determined to find the optimal “intensity” for each event, a critical component not only for World Cup success but also for qualifying for the 2026 Olympics.
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Mikaela Shiffrin and Paula Moltzan of Team USA celebrates after the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Slalom in February 2023.
Her journey to Olympic qualification will be intimately documented through “Making Team USA,” a platform presented by Xfinity. This initiative aims to provide fans with an up-close look at the dedication and challenges faced by Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls as they strive to represent Team USA at Milano Cortina 2026. As one of 11 world-class athletes representing Xfinity, Shiffrin appreciates the support:
“It allows us to feel one little bit closer to home than we otherwise would, which is particularly important in a time that’s very exciting, for sure, but also stressful.”
A Legacy of Gold and Future Aspirations
Mikaela Shiffrin’s decorated career already boasts three Olympic medals:
- 2014 Sochi Games: Gold in Slalom
- 2018 PyeongChang Games: Gold in Slalom, Silver in Combined event
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Mikaela Shiffrin.
Her current focus is not just on adding to this impressive haul but doing so on her own terms, with a mindset that prioritizes long-term improvement and personal enjoyment. This evolution from a prodigious talent to a seasoned veteran navigating complex physical and mental recovery demonstrates her enduring commitment to the sport.
As fans watch her compete in the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup opener in Sölden, Austria, and throughout the season, it will be clear that Shiffrin is not just chasing wins but meticulously rebuilding, refining, and rediscovering the joy in her skiing. Her journey to Milano Cortina 2026 promises to be a compelling narrative of resilience, strategic adaptation, and an unwavering passion for alpine skiing.
