Mikaela Shiffrin Opens Up: Do I Have Any Regrets in My Career?

A Career of Unmatched Success

When it comes to Alpine skiing, Mikaela Shiffrin has built a résumé that most athletes can only dream of. Over 100 World Cup victories, multiple Olympic medals, and World Championship titles place her firmly in the conversation as the greatest skier of all time. Yet for someone who has accomplished so much, the question often arises: does she have any regrets?

It is a fair question. Athletes live lives defined by choices—what races to enter, how to train, when to rest, and when to push through pain. Every decision shapes a career. And even the most successful champions are not immune to looking back and wondering if something could have been different.

The Public Pressure of Perfection

Part of what makes the question so intriguing is Shiffrin’s reputation. To many fans, she appears nearly flawless on the slopes, winning races with such consistency that she makes the impossible look routine. That perception can create an illusion that her career has been without missteps.

But behind the medals is a human being who has faced doubts, setbacks, and disappointments. “People sometimes think because I’ve won a lot that I never question things,” she once explained. “But of course I do. I’m human. I have races I wish went differently, decisions I wish I could have made better.”

The Beijing Olympics Heartbreak

If there is one moment often associated with potential regret, it is the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Shiffrin arrived as one of the favorites, carrying the hopes of fans and the weight of expectations. Instead of adding to her medal count, she crashed out of multiple events. The images of her sitting heartbroken at the side of the course became some of the defining visuals of those Games.

“Beijing was devastating,” she later admitted. “I felt like I let everyone down. I had worked so hard, and when it mattered most, I couldn’t put it together.”

For many athletes, that experience might have turned into a lasting regret. But Shiffrin has chosen to reframe it. Rather than seeing it as failure, she views it as part of her growth. “Looking back, I wouldn’t call it a regret,” she said. “It was painful, but it taught me resilience and how to move forward. It’s part of who I am now.”

The Missed Seasons and Injuries

Like all athletes, Shiffrin has also dealt with the harsh reality of injuries and missed opportunities. There were races she could not compete in, seasons where her training was interrupted, and times when she questioned if her body could keep up with the demands of the sport.

In 2020, the sudden loss of her father compounded the difficulties. She took a significant break from skiing, missing races that might have added to her record-breaking tally. From the outside, it might be easy to wonder if she regrets stepping away.

Yet, for Shiffrin, that pause was essential. “If I had pushed through without giving myself time to grieve, I don’t think I’d still be here, skiing at this level,” she reflected. “Those missed races were not regrets. They were necessary.”

The Regret That Isn’t About Results

Interestingly, when pressed on the subject of regret, Shiffrin often steers away from results. She does not dwell on the races she didn’t win or the medals that slipped away. Instead, she focuses on moments where she may have been too hard on herself.

“I think my biggest regret is not always appreciating the journey as much as I should have,” she confessed. “Sometimes I was so focused on winning that I didn’t take the time to celebrate the little things—the training sessions that went well, the simple joy of skiing.”

It is a striking perspective from someone who has achieved so much. While fans remember the podiums, Shiffrin looks back at the quieter moments she sometimes overlooked.

A Champion’s Honesty

What makes Shiffrin’s reflections on regret resonate is her honesty. She does not hide behind clichés or pretend that everything has been perfect. Instead, she acknowledges the difficulties while also recognizing how they shaped her into the skier—and the person—she is today.

Her ability to be candid sets her apart in a world where many athletes guard their emotions. Fans connect with her not just because she wins, but because she shares her humanity. She allows them to see that greatness and vulnerability can coexist.

Learning from the Past

Ultimately, Shiffrin sees regret not as something to dwell on but as something to learn from. “Every time I think about something I wish had gone differently, I also see how it taught me something,” she said. “Without those experiences, I wouldn’t be the athlete or the person I am.”

That perspective has become part of her strength. Instead of being weighed down by the past, she uses it as fuel for the future. Each setback becomes a lesson, each disappointment a stepping stone.

Why Her Answer Matters

For fans, hearing Shiffrin talk about regret is powerful because it breaks down the myth of perfection. It shows that even the most successful athletes grapple with the same questions and emotions as everyone else. It also sends a message that mistakes or setbacks do not define a career—they enrich it.

Her story reminds us that regret is not about failure, but about growth. And in Shiffrin’s case, those moments of reflection have only deepened her resilience and her determination to keep pushing forward.

Conclusion

So, does Mikaela Shiffrin have regrets in her career? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, she has moments she wishes had gone differently, races where she struggled, and times she was too hard on herself. But no, she does not carry those regrets as burdens. Instead, she embraces them as part of her journey.

Her career is a testament to the idea that greatness is not defined by perfection but by the ability to grow from imperfection. In sharing her reflections, Shiffrin gives fans something more valuable than victories—she gives them perspective.

Her regrets are not signs of weakness. They are reminders of her humanity. And perhaps that, more than any medal or record, is what makes Mikaela Shiffrin truly unforgettable.