We Could Have Still Been Together If He Had Not: Mikaela Shiffrin Breaks Silence on Her Ex, Mathieu Faivre

For years, Mikaela Shiffrin and Mathieu Faivre were one of skiing’s most admired couples — two world-class athletes who seemed destined to conquer life and the slopes together. Their chemistry was undeniable, their bond visible even in the way they supported each other during competition. But when their relationship ended quietly, fans were left wondering what really happened. Now, in a moment of emotional honesty, Shiffrin has opened up about her past with Faivre, hinting that their love story could have survived — “if he had not done what he did.”

A Love Born in the Mountains

Shiffrin and Faivre’s romance began at the heart of their shared world: the snow-covered mountains that defined both their careers. They met on the international circuit, two young stars whose passion for skiing quickly turned into a connection that felt deeper than competition. They trained side by side, pushed each other to be better, and offered comfort when the pressure of the sport grew unbearable.

“Mathieu understood me,” Shiffrin once said in an interview years ago. “He knew the language of skiing, the mindset, the obsession. There was an unspoken connection.” For a while, that understanding was their greatest strength — a love that grew in the silence between races and the shared exhaustion of a long season.

But behind the calm and smiles, there were undercurrents neither of them could ignore. As their fame rose, so did the pressure. Both were chasing titles, expectations, and their own versions of perfection. Love, as they would learn, doesn’t always survive under that kind of weight.

The Cracks Begin to Show

In the early years of their relationship, Shiffrin was already establishing herself as one of the most dominant forces in skiing. Faivre, on the other hand, was struggling to find consistency despite flashes of brilliance. That imbalance, Shiffrin has admitted, started to affect their dynamic in subtle but painful ways.

“When one person is always in the spotlight, and the other feels like they’re living in the shadow, it changes things,” she said softly in her recent interview. “I tried to make him feel seen, but sometimes, no matter what you do, it’s not enough.”

According to people close to them, Faivre’s competitive nature sometimes spilled beyond the slopes. He reportedly struggled with being constantly compared to Shiffrin, whose calm discipline contrasted with his fiery temperament. Small disagreements over time grew into bigger ones — not out of lack of love, but out of frustration.

Shiffrin didn’t go into detail about what exactly caused the final split, but her words — “if he had not done what he did” — carry a heavy implication. It wasn’t one event, but a series of choices, she hinted, that made her realize the relationship could no longer continue.

The Breaking Point

Every love story that ends has a moment when things change forever. For Shiffrin and Faivre, that moment came quietly, behind the scenes, far from the cameras and podiums. “It wasn’t dramatic,” she said. “There was no big fight. It was just… the end of something that had once been beautiful.”

Though Shiffrin did not accuse Faivre of betrayal, her tone suggested that his actions — whether through neglect, pride, or emotional distance — left a mark that couldn’t be ignored. “Sometimes love is tested, and sometimes people fail that test,” she said. “I think we both did, in our own ways. But there were moments where, if he had chosen differently, maybe we would still be together.”

Her words weren’t bitter, just reflective — the kind of honesty that comes only after healing. “I don’t blame him anymore,” she added. “We were young, ambitious, and trying to figure ourselves out. It’s hard to make a relationship last when you’re still learning who you are.”

The Pain Behind the Perfection

In the months that followed their breakup, Shiffrin went through one of the toughest emotional periods of her life. Already carrying the immense weight of public expectation, she now faced loneliness — something few people saw. “You can win races and still feel like you’re losing everything else,” she confessed.

Her father, the late Jeff Shiffrin, became her emotional anchor during that time. “He told me that love and life don’t always go the way we plan,” she recalled. “He said, ‘The heart doesn’t care about medals. It just wants peace.’ That helped me.”

Shiffrin began to rebuild quietly. She focused on skiing, but also on finding herself again — outside of any relationship. “It was hard at first,” she admitted. “Because for so long, I wasn’t just Mikaela. I was Mikaela and Mathieu.”

Mathieu Faivre’s Own Struggles

Faivre, too, faced his share of introspection. After their breakup, he endured a difficult stretch in his career. Known for his fiery personality, he once made headlines after being dismissed from the French team for comments made following the 2018 Winter Olympics. “My performance was all I cared about,” he said at the time — a statement that many interpreted as selfish.

Years later, in what seemed like a moment of reflection, Faivre admitted he had learned the value of humility and empathy. Though he has never publicly spoken about Shiffrin in detail, he has described her as “an extraordinary person” and acknowledged that “sometimes we lose good people when we don’t see what really matters.”

A Love Lost, But Not Forgotten

Despite the pain, Shiffrin doesn’t speak of her past relationship with resentment. In fact, she credits it with helping her grow into the person she is today. “He taught me what it means to love deeply — and what it costs when you take love for granted,” she said. “I’ll always be grateful for that.”

When asked whether she and Faivre still keep in touch, Shiffrin smiled faintly. “Not really,” she said. “But I wish him well. I genuinely do.” There was a pause before she added, “Sometimes people are meant to be chapters, not the whole story.”

Finding Love Again

Today, Mikaela Shiffrin’s heart belongs to another — Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who has become both her partner and emotional support. Their relationship, grounded in mutual respect and quiet understanding, feels different. “With Aleks, it’s calm,” she said. “It’s easy. I don’t have to prove anything — I can just be me.”

Fans have noticed the difference too. Shiffrin’s happiness feels steadier, her presence lighter. “I think going through heartbreak helps you recognize the right kind of love when it comes,” she admitted. “The kind that doesn’t drain you but fills you.”

A Lesson in Love and Growth

Reflecting on her past with Faivre, Shiffrin’s voice carries both strength and grace. “We could have still been together,” she said, “if he had not done what he did — but then again, maybe we weren’t meant to be. Life has a way of showing you what’s right by taking away what isn’t.”

Her story isn’t one of bitterness but of acceptance. She has turned heartbreak into wisdom, learning that love, like skiing, requires balance — and the courage to fall and rise again. “You don’t get stronger by avoiding pain,” she said. “You grow by facing it.”

Conclusion: The Woman Who Skied Through the Storm

Mikaela Shiffrin’s journey — from heartbreak to healing, from loss to love — mirrors her life on the slopes. Every fall, every recovery, every lesson adds to her strength. Her relationship with Mathieu Faivre may have ended, but it remains a meaningful part of her story — a reminder that even in heartbreak, there is beauty.

And though she may never say exactly what “he did,” her silence speaks volumes. It’s not about blame anymore — it’s about growth. Because Mikaela Shiffrin, the champion the world sees, is also a woman who has loved, lost, and learned that sometimes, the hardest turns lead to the most beautiful views.