Mikaela Shiffrin’s place in skiing history is no longer up for debate after her latest victory in Sestriere. The win also marked her 100 career World Cup win. The 29-year-old American led from start to finish in her trademark slalom event, finishing 0.61 seconds ahead of Zrinka Ljutic. With this win, Shiffrin also matched Ingemar Stenmark’s 155 career podium finishes, a record which seemed untouchable. But reaching this peak wasn’t easy.
Her pursuit of a century was put on hold after a crash in Killington last November, where she suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen. It was just the latest in a series of brutal falls, including a six-week recovery stint after tearing knee ligaments in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The crashes were a reminder of how quickly skiing can take control away from even the best. But for Shiffrin, the toughest setback of her career had nothing to do with a race.
The hardest fall came in 2020 when she lost her father, Jeff. And for the first time, the mental toll of skiing wasn’t just about confidence or competition—it was about grief. “Before Beijing [2022 Winter Olympics], I was talking with a sport psychologist, and it was helpful to a point. Honestly, I feel like my mom has been one of my greatest sport psychologists. She knows me better than anybody, so she helps me dive into the history of my mentality. It’s been tough to have consistent meetings, but I try my best to get sessions in when things are intense,” Shiffrin said to Self.
Continuing further, she said, “But the last couple of years, since my dad passed away, I felt like some of the challenges I faced mentally and emotionally existed outside of the field of sports. It was the first time that I started speaking with a clinical psychologist.”
“It’s been extremely helpful for me to understand more about myself… learning how to communicate in a way that is clear and beneficial for all those working around me has also been a journey.
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