Alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin opens up on life after the Olympics, Kylie Kelce comparisons, and more

When sports fans hear the word “GOAT,” names such as Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and LeBron James are often among the first to come to mind. Yet there is another athlete who firmly deserves a place in that conversation — three-time Olympic gold medallist Mikaela Shiffrin.

At 31 years old, Shiffrin has already cemented herself as the most successful alpine skier in history. She became the first skier ever to achieve 100 World Cup victories, a milestone that further strengthened her place among the all-time greats in sport.

Over the course of her remarkable career, the Colorado-born skier has competed at four Winter Olympic Games and collected three gold medals along with one silver medal. Beyond Olympic success, she has also earned eight World Championship gold medals, six overall World Cup titles, nine World Cup slalom crowns, and the 2023 ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete.

However, the road to greatness has not been straightforward. During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Shiffrin entered the Games carrying huge expectations. Many viewed her as the favourite to win multiple gold medals, particularly in the slalom and giant slalom disciplines. Instead, she endured a difficult competition, recording “Did Not Finish” results in both events and leaving Beijing without reaching the podium in those races.

Four years later, though, she returned in style at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Shiffrin captured gold in the slalom event, making history once again as the oldest American woman ever to win Olympic alpine skiing gold. The achievement added another incredible chapter to a career that had already seen her become the youngest American alpine skier to win Olympic gold when she triumphed at the age of 18 during the 2014 Games.

Following the conclusion of the Winter Olympics, Shiffrin spoke with The Philadelphia Inquirer about her experiences in Cortina, the lessons she learned from Beijing, her life after the Games, and even the viral comparisons between her and Kylie Kelce.

When asked whether she ever imagined growing up that she would one day be considered the GOAT of alpine skiing, Shiffrin admitted that the idea never crossed her mind.

She explained that during her childhood, the term “GOAT” was not nearly as common as it is today. While people certainly spoke about legendary athletes being the best ever, it was not part of mainstream sporting culture in the same way. Shiffrin said she feels like she gradually grew into that type of reputation over time rather than chasing it from an early age.

She reflected on how strange it sometimes feels hearing people use the label for her, adding that she never carried massive expectations as a young athlete and instead focused on developing naturally in the sport.

The conversation then shifted to the painful memories of Beijing 2022 and how those experiences helped prepare her for the 2026 Games in Italy.

According to Shiffrin, one of the biggest lessons she learned after Beijing was understanding how rich and meaningful her life is outside of the Olympics themselves. She described the Olympic environment as a kind of vortex where everything feels overwhelmingly important and intense while you are inside it.

Yet once she stepped away from those Games, she realised there were many other important aspects to her life waiting beyond competition — family, relationships, passions and personal experiences. She explained that this perspective helped her understand that her worth is not tied solely to medals or performances.

For Shiffrin, the Olympics became just one piece of a much larger picture. She admitted she may not have fully appreciated that balance until she arrived in Cortina in 2026. Even so, she still desperately wanted to succeed and capture gold once again. The difference this time was that she was better able to separate her identity from the outcome of competition.

One of the more unique aspects of Shiffrin’s Olympic preparation involved the use of Post-it Notes covered in motivational reminders and messages placed around her mirror during the Games.

She revealed that the idea emerged because of the intense fear and pressure she felt surrounding Olympic competition. Shiffrin openly acknowledged being afraid of criticism and the possibility of failure on such a massive stage.

She explained that in elite sport, athletes risk everything in pursuit of success, and if they fall short, the backlash can sometimes feel overwhelming. Those fears became something she confronted directly through conversations with psychologists and teammates during the Games.

Over the course of two weeks, Shiffrin continued adding positive mantras and reminders onto sticky notes to help herself stay grounded and focused on what truly mattered. The messages served as mental anchors during one of the most emotionally demanding periods of her career.

When asked where those notes are now, Shiffrin smiled as she explained they are currently stored inside her journal, resting on top of her piano at home.

She admitted she hopes to preserve them in some more permanent way in the future. One idea she mentioned was engraving the messages onto a metal plaque or display piece that she could hang on a wall.

For Shiffrin, the notes represent a deeply personal chapter in her life and career because she had never relied on that method before. She also acknowledged she may never need to do something similar again, but during the Olympics, it proved extremely meaningful and effective.

Discussion then turned toward what life has looked like since the Games ended.

Shiffrin explained that the months following the Olympics have actually been extremely busy and demanding rather than relaxing. Immediately after the Games, she returned to World Cup competition for another two months and remained in Europe until the very end of March, when the ski season finally concluded.

She said many people assume Olympic athletes finish competing, win medals, and then immediately go on holiday. However, alpine skiing does not work that way because the World Cup season continues almost instantly after the Olympics conclude.

While she admitted the schedule can be exhausting, Shiffrin also believes there is a positive side to staying active in competition. Having another goal to chase and another structure to follow helped prevent the emotional emptiness or “Olympic letdown” that many athletes experience after the Games.

Away from skiing, Shiffrin shared some of the simple ways she likes to relax and unwind during her downtime.

She laughed while discussing her recent television binge-watching habits alongside her mother. Last year, the pair watched Gossip Girl together for the first time, and more recently they began working their way through Grey’s Anatomy.

Shiffrin admitted she already knows about some of the more emotional moments in the series and joked that she feels slightly nervous about reaching those episodes. She also revealed that she recently started watching Gilmore Girls.

According to Shiffrin, watching light-hearted television in the evenings is one of her favourite ways to relax after intense training and competition. She also enjoys playing music, although she admitted that skiing commitments often leave little room for that hobby.

Another topic that gained attention during the Olympics involved the internet’s fascination with supposed similarities between Shiffrin and Kylie Kelce.

Photos of the pair circulated widely online during the Games, with many social media users pointing out what they believed were strong physical similarities between the two women.

When asked whether she sees the resemblance herself, Shiffrin admitted that she does notice it at times.

However, she immediately praised Kelce, saying she believes the Philadelphia personality is prettier, more naturally funny, and cooler in almost every possible way. Shiffrin described Kelce as someone she genuinely admires and even aspires to be like in certain respects.

She noted that their blonde hair and ponytails can create similar appearances from certain angles, which probably contributed to the comparisons going viral online.

Shiffrin also joked about being impressed by Kelce’s flawless skin, admitting she has even started paying closer attention to her own skincare routine because of the inspiration she draws from her.

Despite all the records, medals and accomplishments already attached to her name, Shiffrin’s reflections reveal an athlete who continues to evolve personally as much as professionally. Her journey through triumphs, disappointments, pressure and growth has shaped not only one of the greatest skiers in history, but also someone learning how to balance extraordinary expectations with everyday life beyond the slopes.