Mikaela Shiffrin on What a Third Olympic Gold Would Truly Mean

A Question That Cuts to the Core

For athletes who spend their lives chasing glory, the medals and trophies are often viewed as the final measure of success. But for Mikaela Shiffrin, the question of what a third Olympic gold would mean is not just about adding another prize to an already historic résumé. It’s a question that digs deeper into her journey, her struggles, and the very heart of why she still skis with such determination.

As the world counts down to the next Winter Games, Shiffrin has been open about reflecting on this possibility. Winning a third Olympic gold would be monumental, yes, but for her it would carry layers of meaning far beyond the podium.

More Than Numbers on a Page

Shiffrin is already one of the most decorated skiers in history. With multiple World Championships, over 100 World Cup wins, and two Olympic gold medals, her name sits comfortably among the sport’s greatest. For many athletes, that kind of résumé would be enough. But when asked about a potential third Olympic gold, Shiffrin frames it in more personal terms.

“It wouldn’t just be about the medal count,” she admitted in a recent interview. “It would be about the journey it took to get there, and the people who helped me along the way.”

Her answer reveals something crucial: to her, another Olympic triumph would symbolize resilience, growth, and gratitude as much as it would symbolize dominance.

The Weight of Past Experiences

To understand why a third gold would mean so much, one has to look back at Shiffrin’s Olympic history. Her first came in Sochi in 2014, when she was just 18 years old. That victory made her the youngest slalom champion in Olympic history and announced her as the future of the sport. Her second, in PyeongChang in 2018, came in the giant slalom—proof that her talent stretched beyond one discipline.

But her third Olympic appearance, in Beijing in 2022, was marked by heartbreak. Despite entering as one of the favorites, Shiffrin did not win a medal. She crashed out of several events, and the disappointment was heavy. Critics questioned her, but perhaps even harder was the self-doubt she faced.

“Those Games were some of the toughest days of my career,” she later admitted. “I felt like I had let everyone down. But they also taught me a lot about resilience, about what it means to show up even when things aren’t going your way.”

For her, a third gold would be more than redemption—it would be a statement about perseverance, about finding light after darkness.

The Symbol of Longevity

Another layer to this question is longevity. Skiing is brutal on the body. The training, the travel, the crashes—very few athletes sustain success into their thirties. For Shiffrin to not only still be competing but to be contending for Olympic gold again speaks volumes about her commitment and endurance.

A third Olympic gold would mark her as one of the rare athletes to span multiple generations of dominance. It would show that her greatness was not fleeting, not a product of youthful energy alone, but something that lasted across the most demanding years of her career.

“It would mean I kept going,” she said simply. “That I kept finding reasons to love the sport, even when it got hard.”

What It Would Mean for the Sport

For Alpine skiing, Shiffrin’s third Olympic gold would also be transformative. The sport has always lived in the shadow of larger Olympic disciplines like figure skating and hockey, but Shiffrin’s star power has helped draw attention beyond traditional audiences.

If she were to claim another Olympic title, it would be a storyline not just about skiing but about greatness on the global stage. Young skiers would see a path to follow, while casual viewers would witness history being made by an athlete who transcends her sport.

In that sense, a third gold would mean inspiration—an example for future generations to believe that dreams are worth chasing, even when setbacks occur.

Personal Meaning Beyond the Podium

Shiffrin has often spoken about how much her family influences her journey. The memory of her late father, Jeff, is particularly close to her heart. He was her rock, her supporter, and his sudden passing in 2020 reshaped the way she approached skiing and life.

“To stand on another Olympic podium, I would think of him first,” she said quietly. “That medal wouldn’t just be mine—it would be his too.”

In that way, a third Olympic gold would not only symbolize her own perseverance but also serve as a tribute to the people who shaped her. It would be a deeply personal victory, one that connects her career to her family in the most powerful way.

The Fans’ Perspective

For fans, the meaning of Shiffrin’s third Olympic gold would be no less profound. To many, she represents excellence, discipline, and humility all in one. They have watched her fall and get back up, they have cheered her record-breaking wins, and they have cried with her through difficult losses.

“I feel like we’ve all been on this ride with her,” one longtime fan recently wrote online. “If she wins another gold, it’ll feel like we all won with her.”

That sense of shared triumph speaks to the rare bond Shiffrin has built with her supporters. Her victories are not distant achievements—they feel personal, because she has always let people in, always been honest about her highs and lows.

A Moment That Would Echo Forever

Every Olympics carries unforgettable moments, but should Shiffrin claim her third gold, it would stand out as one of those timeless memories. It would be more than a statistic—it would be the culmination of a decade of dominance, hardship, and resilience.

For Shiffrin, it would be proof that she could climb back from disappointment, that she could sustain greatness across multiple eras, and that the love she still has for skiing continues to fuel her journey.

For her fans, it would be the moment they had been waiting for since Beijing, a story of redemption and triumph. For her sport, it would be a gift—an enduring reminder of why Alpine skiing belongs on the biggest stage.

Conclusion

So, what would it mean to Mikaela Shiffrin to win her third Olympic gold? In her own words, it would mean she kept going. It would mean she honored her father. It would mean she found joy in the sport again and gave herself another chance to show the world who she is.

But perhaps more than anything, it would mean she turned every setback, every doubt, and every heartbreak into fuel for one more unforgettable triumph. And in doing so, she would not only secure her place in history—she would also inspire countless others to keep chasing their own dreams, no matter how difficult the path may be.