Mikaela Shiffrin: How the slalom star achieved legendary status at the Winter Olympics

Mikaela Shiffrin has not had the Winter Olympics she was hoping for, but the underwhelming nature of her showing in Beijing should not dampen her skiing legacy. 

Because, while the 26-year-old continues to strive for perfection, she has already achieved far more than the majority of professional skiers ever will do. 

Indeed, Shiffrin has more Olympic and World Championship gold medals than the great Lindsey Vonn. 

The American is a two-time Olympic champion, three-time Overall World Cup winner and the youngest alpine skiing gold medallist in Winter Games history. 

Recently, Shiffrin has endured a tumultuous few years. She lost her father in February 2020 and has struggled to regain form ever since. 

Nevertheless, her career remains one worthy of celebrating. Here’s a tribute to the slalom star: 

Born in the mountain resort of Vail in Colorado, Shiffrin’s parents were both ski racers. Her father was an anesthesiologist and had skied in college, while her mother raced in high school in northwestern Massachusetts. 

Both shaped Shiffrin into a skiing sensation when she was only young –– helping her work on the physical traits needed to succeed in the sport. This often involved unconventional techniques, including urging their daughter to ride a unicycle and juggle to improve her balance. 

Shiffrin’s parents also placed emphasis on managing her mentality. Speaking to the Guardian, the US star said: “My parents used to say… ‘Just smile, even if you don’t feel like it.’

“Smiling releases a chemical in your brain that actually makes you feel happier. By smiling, you’re going to feel just a little bit better. You’re going to start this snowball effect that’s going to get you out of this mood.”

So far in Beijing, Shiffrin has yet