TIME Magazine has unveiled its inaugural list of the 100 most influential figures in sports, celebrating athletes, leaders and personalities whose impact extends far beyond competition. Among the distinguished names included are four representatives from U.S. Ski & Snowboard: Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, Jessie Diggins and Oksana Masters.

The groundbreaking list highlights individuals who are helping shape the future of global sports through their achievements, influence and ability to inspire others. Joining the four American winter sports icons are some of the biggest names in international athletics, including Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani and Jannik Sinner.

For U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the inclusion of four athletes on the prestigious list reflects decades of excellence, perseverance and influence across multiple disciplines. Each athlete has built a legacy that stretches beyond medals and records, inspiring millions around the world through their achievements and personal journeys.

Mikaela Shiffrin Continues to Redefine Greatness

Among those recognized was Mikaela Shiffrin, whose remarkable career has established her as the most successful skier in the history of the sport.

Shiffrin was previously named to TIME’s list of the world’s most influential people in 2023, and her latest recognition further reinforces her standing as one of the most respected athletes of her generation.

The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team star added another extraordinary chapter to her career at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Competing in the slalom event, she delivered a dominant performance to claim Olympic gold and secure the fourth Olympic medal of her career.

The victory was particularly memorable because of the margin by which she won. Shiffrin crossed the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, the largest winning margin seen in an alpine slalom competition since 1998.

Her success in Italy was only the latest achievement in a career filled with historic accomplishments. Over the years, Shiffrin has consistently rewritten skiing’s record books and elevated the standards of excellence within the sport.

Her resume includes four Olympic medals, consisting of three gold medals and one silver medal. She has also earned 15 medals at the World Championships and collected 18 overall FIS Crystal Globes.

In addition, Shiffrin has accumulated 110 World Cup victories and 121 World Cup podium finishes, numbers that place her comfortably ahead of many legends who came before her.

These accomplishments have cemented her reputation as the greatest alpine skier of all time.

Reacting to the honor, Shiffrin expressed gratitude and humility. In a social media post, she described the recognition as an incredible privilege and said it was inspiring to be included alongside so many influential figures from across the sporting world.

Despite everything she has achieved, Shiffrin admitted that honors of this magnitude still feel somewhat surreal. She acknowledged that there remains a part of her that occasionally wonders whether such recognition is truly real.

That combination of excellence and humility continues to make her one of the most admired athletes in international sport.

Lindsey Vonn’s Remarkable Comeback Earns Global Recognition

TIME also honored Lindsey Vonn, whose return to elite competition became one of the most talked-about stories in sports.

The recognition follows a year that many observers have described as one of the greatest comeback attempts ever witnessed.

At 41 years old, Vonn returned to the highest level of alpine skiing and once again demonstrated the determination and resilience that defined her legendary career.

Following her comeback from retirement, she recorded eight World Cup podium finishes and entered the Milano Cortina Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings.

Those achievements alone would have been remarkable for any athlete, but they carried even greater significance given the challenges Vonn had overcome throughout her career.

However, her Olympic preparations suffered a devastating setback just days before the Games.

While competing in a World Cup event at Crans Montana, Vonn crashed and sustained a torn ACL only nine days before the Olympic downhill competition.

Many athletes would have accepted defeat under such circumstances, but Vonn refused to abandon her Olympic ambitions.

Determined to compete, she worked tirelessly to return to the slopes and ultimately made it back to the starting gate for the women’s downhill event.

Unfortunately, her Olympic race ended almost immediately when she crashed shortly after beginning her run.

Even so, Vonn’s story was never solely about results.

The significance of her comeback was found in her willingness to continue chasing her goals despite injuries, setbacks and doubts from others.

Her determination to keep competing at the highest level inspired athletes across multiple sports and demonstrated the power of perseverance.

Following the announcement of the TIME100 Sports list, Vonn said she felt deeply honored to receive the recognition.

She described being included alongside so many accomplished athletes as both humbling and inspiring.

Reflecting on her journey, she explained that returning to the top level of her sport and pursuing a dream many believed impossible had become one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

For Vonn, the recognition serves as another testament to a career defined by courage, resilience and an unwavering belief in herself.

Jessie Diggins Receives Fitting Tribute After Historic Career

Another athlete recognized by TIME was Jessie Diggins, who recently concluded one of the most influential careers in American winter sports history.

Widely regarded as the most accomplished cross-country skier the United States has ever produced, Diggins retired at the end of the 2025-26 season after years of extraordinary success.

Her achievements transformed the profile of cross-country skiing in America and inspired countless young athletes to pursue the sport.

Diggins finished her career with four Olympic medals, including a landmark gold medal won alongside teammate Kikkan Randall at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

That victory represented the first Olympic gold medal ever won by the United States in cross-country skiing and remains one of the defining moments in the sport’s history.

Beyond Olympic competition, Diggins captured four overall World Cup titles and established herself as one of the most consistent athletes of her era.

She accumulated 90 World Cup podium finishes and recorded 30 World Cup victories.

At the World Championships, she added eight podium appearances to an already impressive collection of achievements.

Another remarkable accomplishment was her longevity. Diggins finished her career with more World Cup starts than any cross-country skier in history, highlighting both her durability and commitment to the sport.

Yet her influence extended far beyond competition.

Throughout her career, Diggins became a leading advocate for mental health awareness. She openly discussed the pressures faced by elite athletes and helped encourage more honest conversations about mental well-being.

Her willingness to speak openly about these issues helped reduce stigma and created a more supportive environment within sport.

The recognition from TIME therefore represents not only a celebration of athletic achievement but also acknowledgment of her broader impact on society.

Upon learning of her inclusion, Diggins expressed gratitude and said she felt incredibly honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of athletes.

Oksana Masters’ Extraordinary Journey Continues to Inspire

The fourth U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete recognized by TIME was Oksana Masters, whose life story and athletic accomplishments have inspired people around the globe.

Masters is widely regarded as the most decorated Paralympic athlete in history, with an astonishing collection of 24 Paralympic medals earned across multiple sports.

Her journey began in Ukraine, where she was born with severe birth defects believed to be linked to radiation exposure from the Chornobyl disaster.

Despite immense challenges during her early years, Masters demonstrated extraordinary resilience.

She was adopted at the age of seven and moved to the United States, where new opportunities allowed her to pursue athletics.

At age 14, both of her legs were amputated, yet she continued to overcome obstacles and build one of the most remarkable careers in sports history.

Masters first found success in rowing, winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

She later transitioned into winter sports and quickly established herself as a force in cross-country skiing.

At the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, she captured two medals and announced herself as one of the sport’s rising stars.

Her breakthrough came in PyeongChang in 2018, where she earned her first Paralympic gold medal in the 1.5-kilometer sprint and finished the Games with five medals overall.

Not content with excelling in one discipline, Masters also achieved success in cycling.

At the Tokyo Paralympics, she added another gold medal to her collection and continued building her legacy.

She reached new heights in Beijing in 2022, becoming the first American athlete to win seven medals at a single Paralympic Games.

Her success continued at the Paris Paralympics, where she secured two additional gold medals.

At Milano Cortina, she once again demonstrated her remarkable abilities by winning three more gold medals and further extending her record as one of the greatest Paralympians of all time.

Following the announcement, Masters said she was deeply honored to be included on the TIME100 Sports list.

She noted that the recognition carried special significance because of the company she was joining. The list includes many of the most influential athletes, pioneers and broadcasters in sports history.

Masters admitted that being mentioned alongside such iconic figures was something she never imagined possible.

A Landmark Recognition for Winter Sports

The inclusion of Shiffrin, Vonn, Diggins and Masters on TIME’s inaugural 100 Most Influential People in Sports list highlights the extraordinary impact these athletes have had on the sporting world.

Collectively, they have won countless medals, broken records, inspired future generations and used their platforms to influence conversations far beyond competition.

Their stories represent excellence, perseverance and the power of sport to change lives.

As TIME launches its first-ever sports influence list, these four athletes stand as deserving representatives of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and enduring symbols of achievement on the global stage.