Mikaela Shiffrin Sets Her Sights on the Olympic Season with Fresh Mindset, Missing Petra Vlhová, and Speed-Event Reflection
As the winter circuit ramps up toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, three-time Olympic medalist Mikaela Shiffrin is approaching her 30s with a distinct shift in mindset, a renewed openness in communication with her team, a bittersweet acknowledgement of the absence of her longtime rival Petra Vlhová, and thoughtful reflection on whether speed events remain in her focus. In a wide-ranging Q&A with NBC Olympics, Shiffrin opened up about all of this and more.
A New Way of Working: Mindset & Communication
Shiffrin explained that one of the most significant changes this season is a renewed emphasis on “open, honest communication about all the facets of what we do.” She said that while this attitude has always been present to some extent, it’s now a priority for her — especially as she enters a new phase of her career.
She elaborated on how this plays out in practice: on a training day that doesn’t feel productive, she’s now more willing to say to her coaches, “I don’t feel that this is productive,” and equally, her coaches are encouraged to speak up if they see something. Because of her long career and massive success, “it was challenging for people to tell me what needs to happen,” she said. That hesitancy is now being broken down.
The result, she says, has been an “incredible moment… almost like a flower blossoming” — a freedom and creativity opening up for her and her team together. She views this kind of dynamic as critical for navigating the coming Olympic push.
Missing the Rival—and the Fire That Comes With It
One of the more striking aspects of this season for Shiffrin: the absence of Petra Vlhová from competition. Vlhová, a rival who has pushed Shiffrin for years in slalom and giant slalom, has been out due to a knee injury. Shiffrin called it “an enormous blow for the sport,” and admitted it feels different standing at the start gate without her there.
She reflected that “we will be feeling her absence for sure” and said of Vlhová’s skiing on certain hills: “She’s skied it better than I’ve ever seen anyone ski it — including myself.”
More than just competition, Shiffrin expressed genuine hope for Vlhová’s recovery. They have exchanged texts, and Shiffrin acknowledged how hard injuries are for an athlete’s body and mind. She said she’s “really excited to see any post that she’s done in ski boots… that she’s feeling a lot more stable and structurally strong” — because that’s the foundation from which you rebuild.
Shiffrin also admitted that in the start gate, when the rival isn’t there, the process doesn’t feel different — you still focus on your own skiing — but the atmosphere does. The battle, the push from someone you’ve grown with year after year, is missing.
The Speed Events Question: How Far Will She Go?
Speed events — namely super-G and downhill — have always posed a particular challenge for Shiffrin, who built her reputation in slalom and giant slalom. This season she has reiterated that she will not be racing downhill and will “see about” super-G.
She described speed as a “beautiful passion project” — one that taught her a lot, made her a more well-rounded skier, and one she still loves. But she is pragmatic: if events don’t line up, or if she can’t earn her spot, she’s okay with letting them go. “I don’t want to be taking a spot that I don’t earn and deserve to be there,” she said.
When asked whether she’d ever be satisfied with her speed career if she never did a major speed race again, she responded candidly: “I don’t know that I could ever say I’m satisfied with anything, but I’m happy and proud.” She emphasized that her foundation in technical events made everything possible, and even minimal training in speed still helped her become a “whole skier.”
Looking Ahead: Olympic Season Strategy
All of these threads — the new communication style, the missing rivalry, the calibrated approach to speed events — tie into Shiffrin’s broader strategy for the Olympic season. She’s mindful that the Games are not just another event, and that the depth of the U.S. team means internal pressure and qualifying stakes are high.
By focusing on what she can control — her technique, her team dialogue, her preparation — she is effectively shifting part of her energy away from the uncontrollable (opponents, conditions, etc.) and toward the process. Although she didn’t use that exact language in the interview, the implication is clear: a veteran skier knows how to train smart, pick her battles, listen to her body and her team, and build toward peak moments.
Moreover, the absence of Petra Vlhová, while lamentable for the rival‐dynamic, also offers a unique psychological moment. Shiffrin is racing not only for medals but in some sense as a steward of the sport’s competitive narrative — acknowledging that driving each other forward has been a huge part of both athletes’ journeys. Her comments reflect that maturity.
Final Thoughts
In sum, Mikaela Shiffrin’s Q&A offers a revealing snapshot of a champion in evolution. She is far from coasting — instead, she is redeploying her strengths, refining her approach, and acknowledging the shifting landscape of her sport. She’s embracing the role of listener (with her coaches, with her own body), competitor, and perhaps elder stateswoman of her discipline.
As the Olympic season unfolds, it won’t just be about how fast she skis — though that always matters — but how she skis, how she engages with the process, and how she channels the absence of her rival into motivation rather than distraction. If the sport has learned anything from Shiffrin’s career thus far, it’s that she does not shy away from introspection, adaptation, or the hard work.
In her own words: “If she [Petra Vlhová] were here, she’d be pushing all out… so I want to do her legacy justice and push myself as hard as I can.”
The countdown to Milano Cortina has begun — and it seems Mikaela Shiffrin is more ready than ever for its unique demands.
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