Mikaela Shiffrin, a skiing legend, has made a heartbreaking confession in the midst of her ongoing struggles to maintain a connection with her fans

There is no guarantee that an athlete with 101 World Cup wins, 18 global medals, and records such as 17 victories in a season will be immune to internet harassment. Mikaela Shiffrin, the Queen of Alpine Skiing, has undoubtedly earned her incredible collection of awards. Despite her accomplishment, she still faces the wrath of trolls. It all began to unravel in 2022, during the Beijing Winter Olympics, when Shiffrin crashed out of three events and was confronted with a barrage of internet hatred. She replied, “There will always be turkeys.” However, this narrative has taken a new turn, with an even more frightening twist.

Fast forward to 2025, Mikaela faces a new challenge. It’s not about medals or DNFs this time. It’s about identity. And Shiffrin has something to say. In a surprising admission, the skiing legend stated that bogus identities are impersonating her, deceiving admirers, sending messages, and disseminating incorrect information. And worse? People believe them. “This seems to be happening a lot more lately,” she told Thread, “but I wanted to let you all know that if you receive a communication from someone claiming to be me, it is definitely NOT me.”

No, this is not a random spam account. These impersonators are replicating her photographs and exploiting her name. It’s disturbingly convincing. “The only authentic account I have is the one with the official blue checkmark. Unfortunately, there is so much bogus stuff and accounts out there these days, it’s impossible to know what is legitimate or not. 😣” She explained more.

“I wish I had more time to reach out to fans,” she tweeted, “but the gym, mountains, fam, & sponsors + media calls!” Mikaela Shiffrin made no excuses when she wrote that. She was speaking the truth. Shiffrin returned to snow in January, following a horrific collision in Killington that resulted in a fatal stomach injury. In just a few weeks, she clawed her way back, teaming up with Breezy Johnson for gold at the World Championships and winning her 100th World Cup. It makes natural that she would have little time to deal with internet impersonators.

Then, in March, with the odds stacked against her, rutted courses, warm Sun Valley temperatures, and unpredictable snow, Shiffrin delivered a masterclass in Slalom, winning her 101st race and finishing her season with unrivalled grace. However, Mikaela Shiffrin is not the only victim of internet impersonation.

What are your thoughts on:

Is the rise of false accounts jeopardising the true relationship between players and fans?

Do you have an intriguing perspective?

Debate

Mikaela Shiffrin is not alone.

Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t alone in her unnerving digital struggle. Big figures in sports and entertainment are becoming entangled in a web of impersonators. What about LeBron James, the NBA superstar? Yes, he used a phoney account. MLB’s Aroldis Chapman? Same. Even NHL legend Connor McDavid has been impersonated by fakes. And it isn’t just athletes. A phoney Nintendo of America account caused turmoil and was eventually suspended.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine what and who is real. With one replicated photo and a recognised name, fans are fooled into believing they are speaking with their heroes. For athletes like Shiffrin, it’s not just annoying, but also frightening. This is not about vanity. It is about trust. And safeguarding the genuine bond they’ve formed with followers who simply want to believe. This is compounded by the psychological toll of seeing your name exploited, your statements fabricated, and your following misinformed. That represents the new horizon of harm.