Mikaela Shiffrin secured her third Olympic gold medal during the 2026 Winter Olympics, adding yet another accolade to her illustrious skiing career. The American athlete recently shared insights into the pivotal moment that allowed her to regain composure before clinching the slalom gold in Milano-Cortina.
Reflecting on a Crucial Moment Before Victory
In an exclusive conversation on the TODAY show, Shiffrin recounted experiencing an “almost out-of-body experience” at the start gate preceding her second run. This intense moment was triggered after witnessing the competitor immediately ahead of her fail to navigate a gate correctly, an incident that unexpectedly transported her back to the frustrations endured at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Confronted with the haunting memory of her prior Olympic disappointment, Shiffrin revealed that her predominant apprehension entering the Games was the possibility of enduring feelings of profound isolation and solitude. However, she emphasized that, contrary to her fears, the presence and support of her team ensured she never felt alone throughout the competition.