Mikaela Shiffrin thinks about her father frequently in a season highlighted by…

Sun Valley, Idaho (AP) Mikaela Shiffrin was at a World Cup finals celebration party when the band started playing Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al.”

Tears suddenly formed. That was her father’s favourite tune.

Recently, the American ski racing star has been reflecting about her father, Jeff Shiffrin. He perished five years ago in a house accident.

Her father encouraged her love of skiing. He gave advice and comments, generally observing her races from the sidelines with a camera dangling from a strap around his neck.

In this Nov. 28, 2015, file photo, first-place finisher Mikaela Shiffrin, left, poses with her father Jeff Shiffrin after the women’s World Cup slalom ski race in Aspen, Colo. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow, File)

In this Nov. 23, 2012, file photo, Mikaela Shiffrin, center, talks with her ski technician, right, along with her father, Jeff Shiffrin, left, after a practice run for the women’s World Cup ski race in Aspen, Colo. (AP Photo/Nathan Bilow, FIle)

Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin speaks to a reporter in advance of competing at the World Cup Finals, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Third placed United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates after an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom in Are, Sweden, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Mikaela Shiffrin reflects on her 100th World Cup triumph and wonders what he would have thought.

“I just wish,” she replied, “I could ask him.”

Shiffrin’s season has been extremely arduous, and it will come to an end on Thursday with her slalom race at the World Cup final. The two-time Olympic champion is still recovering following an accident in the giant slalom at Killington, Vermont, in November. She sustained a deep puncture wound, causing substantial stress to her oblique muscles. It also resulted in emotional trauma, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (GS).

Next season, there will be the pressure of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Shiffrin struggled at the 2022 Beijing Games, failing to medal in five individual events.

Dad might have been quite helpful in dealing with all of these feelings.

On February 2, 2020, Jeff Shiffrin, 65, died in an accident at his family’s Colorado home. He was an anaesthesiologist who used his clinical scientific skills to help Mikaela develop innovative training methods and workout plans. He instilled in her the ability to focus and be present at all times.

On racing days, he mostly remained in the background, occasionally climbing trees near a race hill to obtain a sight of her soaring through the course. Her father, with his distinctive bushy moustache, was always available for advice, video breakdowns, and, of course, hugs.

“This season I’ve definitely been thinking about him a lot,” Mikaela Shiffrin said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Most of it has been more emotional and, I believe, sadder than it has been in a long time. I’m sure that’s related to some of my other experiences this year.”

She’s not sure what he would have thought of her winning her 100th World Cup event, a slalom at Sestriere, Italy, on February 23.

“One of the worst things for me is when people say he would have been proud,” she said. “I said, ‘Well, we don’t know that.'” Maybe he would have told me to give up ski racing for now. Go find something else to do.

“But I suppose he would have been proud, just like the awkward, giggly dad. If anyone had asked, he could have dismissed it, saying, ‘We’re just trying to ski well.'”

She has the support of her mother and brother. Her fiance is Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

She relies on them—and will continue to do so as the Olympics approach. Because the Beijing Games will be discussed frequently to Shiffrin. Everything felt different, especially the location and the paucity of fans due to the epidemic, which made it difficult to generate any kind of buzz.

This edition of the Winter Games is held in a well-known venue in Cortina, on a slope where Shiffrin won a World Cup super-G race in 2019 and a World Championship Alpine combined gold medal in 2021.

“In many ways, Cortina is going to be — it might actually feel like my first Olympics in a place where Alpine skiing doesn’t feel like an afterthought,” said Shiffrin, who won the GS gold in Pyeongchang four years later after winning the slalom in Sochi in 2014.

Lindsey Vonn, who has recently returned to the spotlight, is expected to join her. Vonn, 40, just finished second in the super-G at the World Cup championships, capping up her comeback season following a partial knee replacement.

“Watching her ski that way (Sunday) with really challenging conditions… was really impressive,” said Shiffrin, 30. “I thought her skiing was really powerful.”

Shiffrin will cede her overall slalom title on Thursday, regardless of how she finishes, after capturing the discipline’s crystal globe the previous two seasons. She is now sixth in the season-long slalom rankings (she missed four races due to her crash) and has a chance to finish second or third. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia is in first place, with three other racers close behind.

“There’s still a level of focus and intensity that I really want to bring to the slalom,” Shiffrin told reporters. “I also want to ski as well as I can. I want to be ready to handle anything comes my way with my finest game and turns.”

That’s the approach her father helped establish.

Little things have recently reminded her of him. Like the Simon tune.

“That song (coming on at the celebration), it was a gift for me,” Shiffrin joked. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to start crying.'” Certain music reminds me of him. Certain apparel reminds me of him. “Those memories return in flashes and at unexpected times.”

Can Mikaela Shiffrin Still Perform at Her Best Given Her Current Health Status as She Gets Ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina?

A Champion Tested by Time and Injury
As the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina intensifies, one of the biggest questions in alpine skiing circles is whether Mikaela Shiffrin can return to her peak form. The American ski legend, who has long been the gold standard in the sport, has faced a series of physical and emotional challenges over the past two seasons that have reshaped both her approach to competition and the expectations of those around her. Her health—both physical and mental—has become the central narrative of her Olympic preparation. For a skier who has built her career on precision, consistency, and near-flawless execution, the question is no longer about her talent but whether her body and mind can withstand the rigors of another Olympic campaign.

The Aftermath of the Killington Crash
In late 2024, during a World Cup race in Killington, Vermont, Shiffrin’s season took a frightening turn. A crash during the Giant Slalom left her with a deep abdominal puncture wound and trauma to her oblique muscles. It was a serious injury that required medical intervention and a long recovery process. While she avoided bone fractures or torn ligaments, the impact affected a part of her body essential for skiing — the core. Every turn, every landing, and every transition in alpine skiing depends on the strength and stability of the core muscles. “It was one of the scariest injuries I’ve ever had,” Shiffrin admitted in an interview earlier this year. “At first, I just wanted to heal. Competing again wasn’t even on my mind.”

The injury forced her to step away from racing for nearly two months. When she returned, it was clear she wasn’t yet at full strength. Her skiing was careful, her posture more guarded, and her starts slightly less explosive. Yet, by the end of the 2024–25 season, she showed flashes of her old brilliance, claiming two more World Cup victories and reminding the world that resilience can be as powerful as raw speed.

Rehabilitation and a Smarter Training Philosophy
Shiffrin’s rehabilitation after the crash was methodical. Instead of pushing her limits early, she prioritized slow, structured recovery—focusing on muscle rebuilding, flexibility, and endurance. Her coaches and medical team adopted a more holistic approach that combined physical therapy with strength conditioning, nutrition, and mental health support. “We’re not chasing short-term gains,” one of her trainers said. “We’re preparing her for long-term stability—both physically and mentally.”

Shiffrin herself admitted that her training approach has evolved with experience. “When I was younger, it was about intensity—more hours, more runs, more everything,” she said. “Now it’s about balance. Listening to my body, understanding its limits, and working smarter.” This maturity in training could become one of her biggest advantages heading into Milan-Cortina.

The Mental Battle: Overcoming Fear and PTSD
The crash did more than injure Shiffrin physically—it left psychological scars. In the months following her accident, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For an athlete who thrives on control and focus, the mental aftermath was a new challenge. “Every time I got to the start gate after that, I could still see the fall in my mind,” she confessed. “It took months of therapy and self-reflection to move past it.”

Her openness about mental health has earned her widespread respect and inspired countless athletes facing similar struggles. It also highlights how mental resilience is now part of her preparation. “You can be in perfect physical condition, but if your mind isn’t ready, you’re not really competing,” Shiffrin said. “The key for me now is to align both.”

As she looks toward 2026, her mental strength could prove just as decisive as her technical skills. She has acknowledged that fear still lingers, but she’s learning to transform it into focus. That mindset shift might not just allow her to perform—it could redefine what “performing at her best” truly means.

Signs of Recovery and Renewed Confidence
By mid-2025, Shiffrin’s results spoke for themselves. Despite missing several races, she still managed to finish among the top competitors in multiple disciplines. Her performance at the World Cup Finals, where she captured her 101st career victory, was a clear signal that she remains a dominant force. “It wasn’t my fastest skiing,” she admitted afterward. “But it was my smartest.”

Observers noted that her turns were cleaner, her control sharper, and her race strategies more calculated. Gone was the reckless pursuit of perfection; in its place stood a veteran athlete who knew when to push and when to play safe. That evolution could be the key to her longevity—and perhaps her best chance for Olympic success.

The Balance Between Recovery and Risk
Still, uncertainty remains. Ski racing is unforgiving. Even the smallest imbalance or lapse in coordination can spell disaster, especially for someone recovering from core trauma. Experts suggest that while Shiffrin’s physical recovery appears complete, she must carefully manage fatigue and avoid overtraining in the buildup to Milan-Cortina. “Her biggest challenge isn’t pain anymore—it’s maintenance,” said one former U.S. Ski Team physiologist. “The core takes constant work. It’s not something you fix once and forget.”

Shiffrin herself recognizes the fine line she must walk. “Every training session is a test,” she said. “I have to be mindful. If I feel off, I stop. I’d rather lose one day of training than risk another injury.” This disciplined mindset marks a striking contrast to the younger version of herself who might have skied through discomfort for the sake of competition.

Her Competitive Edge: Experience and Adaptability
Even with health concerns, Shiffrin’s experience gives her a unique advantage. Over a decade of racing at the highest level has taught her how to adapt to changing conditions, manage nerves, and optimize her technique. She’s no longer competing just on athleticism—she’s competing on wisdom. “You don’t lose your instincts,” said Lindsey Vonn, her former teammate and fellow Olympic champion. “If anything, you get sharper. Mikaela’s skiing now is built on mastery, not muscle.”

That mastery could make the difference in Milan-Cortina. The courses in the Italian Alps are known for their technical demands and unpredictable snow conditions—terrain that rewards precision over raw speed. Shiffrin’s trademark efficiency, balance, and mental clarity could suit her perfectly if she remains healthy.

The Verdict: Still Capable of Greatness
So, can Mikaela Shiffrin still perform at her best? The answer, by all indications, is yes—though “her best” may look different than before. She may not dominate every race as she once did, but she’s entering a new phase of her career defined by depth, intelligence, and resilience. The hunger is still there, tempered now by perspective and self-awareness.

For Shiffrin, success in Milan-Cortina might not just mean winning gold. It could mean skiing freely, confidently, and authentically after everything she’s endured. “I don’t take any run for granted anymore,” she said recently. “Just being able to ski again, pain-free, is something I celebrate.”

If history has shown anything, it’s that Mikaela Shiffrin’s best performances often come when she’s underestimated. And as she prepares to step back into the Olympic spotlight, one thing is clear—she’s not done making history yet.