She already has a laundry list of accomplishments and at only 23 years old, Mikaela Shiffrin is poised to continue her dominance of women’s skiing for years to come. What defines this as much as her results, is her methods. Shiffrin is known for a massively disciplined training regime and flawless execution that often leads her to the top of the standings.
Shiffrin hit the snow at top-speed entering Slalom events the moment she was of age. Her second year on the tour at the age of sixteen, Shiffrin notched a win in the Slalom at the US National Championships in Colorado, making her the youngest American to land a national event win. She has been on a tear since picking up World Cup wins and setting records at the sport’s top level. The greats of the sport have also taken notice. Shiffrin’s hero Bode Miller said “I still can’t decide whether she compares more to LeBron James because of her physical gifts or to Michael Jordan, since she makes dominance look easy.”
The Olympics have been good to Shiffrin as well. The world of Alpine Skiing goes under it’s biggest spotlight every four years in the Olympics. Shiffrin has now put in strong performances at two Olympics in a row, earning Gold in the Slalom in Sochi in 2014, and at the giant slalom in Pyeongchang while also picking up a silver in the combined in 2018. Her speed at the Olympics this year earned her more medals than any other American, and more than any other Female Alpine skier.