Mikaela Shiffrin gives a one-word reaction after being named to the USA’s skiing squad alongside Lindsey Vonn and others for the 2025-26 season

Mikaela Shiffrin has reacted to being named one of 49 members of the USA alpine skiing team for the 2025-2026 season. The roster also includes Lindsey Vonn, who won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Breezy Johnson, and Lauren Macuga, among others.

Shiffrin had a strong 2024-25 skiing season, culminating with her 101st World Cup title. In the forthcoming season, she will not only seek a berth on the Winter Olympics 2026 team, but also redemption after missing out on medals at the Beijing Games in 2022.

On October 13, U.S. Ski & Snowboard unveiled the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski squad on their official Instagram page, revealing the A, B, and C teams, with Shiffrin joining the A squad. The 30-year-old shared this on her own handle, with a single word reaction:

“Team ❤️”

Screenshot of Mikaela Shiffrin’s reaction. Credits – IG/ mikaelashiffrin reposts
Team USA had a dismal campaign in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, winning only one medal: Ryan Cochran-Siegle’s silver in Super-G.

Mikaela Shiffrin discloses decision to forgo downhill, targets super-G for 2025-26 season.

Mikaela Shiffrin during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Slalom in Are, Sweden. (Photo by Jonas Ericsson/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)

Mikaela Shiffrin explains why she chose not to compete in downhill events for the World Cup this season. She stated that she is open to racing in Super-G and plans to ease into it early in the season, allowing her team to evaluate whether it fits into her Olympic training.

In an interview with the media in October 2025, she expressed her excitement at her progress. She said:

“I’m quite pleased with the improvements my team and I made. We’re entering this season with a good atmosphere, and I have a lot of faith in the people around me. I am quite appreciative for that. I am not prepared, but I am excited. And that is a fantastic place to be.

“In the previous two seasons, I was injured and had to miss at least eight weeks of snow. So, adding a lot of events might not be the best idea,” she said, reflecting on her decision to miss downhill races.

Shiffrin experienced a devastating crash in a big slalom race at Killington in November 2024. However, she had a successful comeback throughout the season, earning gold in the women’s team combined event at the World Championships as well as a milestone 100th World Cup win.

Abhiruchi Rout

Abhiruchi is a Sportskeeda writer who covers the US Olympics and specialises in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and wrestling. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and more than two years of experience in sports journalism.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are Abhiruchi’s favourite Olympians. She started following them in 2018, and watching their journey from not wanting to play together to being the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles duo motivates her.

Abhiruchi is particularly excited about track and field because of the variety of events involved. Neeraj Chopra’s historic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics remains her favourite Olympic moment, as it marked India’s first gold medal in track and field competitions. She believes that in order to increase coverage of Olympic sports during the off-season, more emphasis should be given on emerging athletes.

Abhiruchi employs journalistic practices she gained while obtaining her Bachelor’s degree, such as prioritising firsthand knowledge, cross-checking with many credible sources, and fact-checking for correctness. To stay up to date, she follows reputable publications and several established athletes on social media.

When Abhiruchi is not reporting, she enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.