Mikaela Shiffrin Shares Game Plan for Dominating the 2026 Olympic Season Ahead of World Cup Kickoff
As the 2025-26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season nears, Mikaela Shiffrin stands ready. She is the top alpine skier and now shows careful plans for an Olympic year that may add to her legacy. Mikaela holds 101 World Cup wins—more than any other skier in all events—and she has reached 157 career podiums. At 30, she meets the World Cup opener in Sölden, Austria. This season also carries the weight of the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026. Shiffrin shines on the World Cup circuit, yet her Olympic path has had twists. She has won two gold medals and faced hard moments too. At the 2022 Beijing Games, she did not finish several events. “I feel aged… Wiser, but also, the more I know, the more I feel like I know nothing,” she shared. This mix of modesty and clear insight guides her view as she nears the quadrennial event.
Many athletes plan their season to peak for the Games, while Mikaela values steady work during the World Cup. She says, “Most of us believe that a strong World Cup season gives us more momentum, confidence, and skill for the Games.” She faces high public hopes and keeps focus on her own sports goals. It is hard to live in a strong narrative and still put first what matters to her as an athlete.
Her approach this Olympic season is careful and clear. She will race in three events at the 2026 Games: slalom, giant slalom, and the team combined. Matching Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s record of six overall World Cup titles is a big aim, but for now, she takes the season step by step. “I take the season step by step. I think there will be improvements to make probably every single race,” she said.
A main story this season is her work in giant slalom after an abdominal injury from a fast crash last November. The injury made her face both body pain and a drop in confidence, with hard memories resembling PTSD. Last season, her return to GS races was cautious. Many training camps and repeated runs on challenging courses now help her feel more in control. “It’s still very much a work in progress to be able to take on the full speed of a GS course,” she admits, yet she remains firm.
Her training this fall is strong, with an early arrival in Europe and many days spent on rough course terrain. Skiing on such tracks may make a difference as higher bib numbers often mean tougher courses. With races set in Sölden, Levi, and her home course at Copper Mountain, Shiffrin looks to do well on the circuit before the Olympics.
Off the slopes, the season holds deep feelings too. Mikaela’s fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, works hard to recover from a serious crash in January 2024. His steady healing has taught her lessons of trust, persistence, and strong will. This journey adds meaning to her own path.
As the World Cup season starts, all eyes watch Mikaela Shiffrin. She chases medals with focus, grit, and careful plans for what may be a defining Olympic season. Her journey shows that true greatness comes from learning and growth, right alongside success on the podium.