Mikaela Shiffrin exclusive on nearing 100 World Cup wins, looking up to Taylor Swift, and future with fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
In this exclusive interview, the double Olympic champion shares how the pop star's commitment inspires her as she reflects on her life priorities.
Alpine Skiing
In 2019, alpine skiing great Ingemar Stenmark predicted than Mikaela Shiffrin would win more than 100 World Cup races.
Five years later, after already breaking the Swede’s longstanding record (86), the Team USA star has achieved 97 victories and is expected to reach the 100-win milestone this season.
“Yes, that (milestone) is a good word for it,” Shiffrin said in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which she attended as a fan.
“I'm a little bit numb to it," the 29-year-old said, "just because when I think about my career, I don't see it in numbers. I see moments and, experiences and, celebrations or disappointments, and you sum it up in a different way than numbers.”
The possibility of seeing those three figures close to her name doesn’t leave the American completely unfazed: “If I take a step back and I just think about the sport and what it means that any athlete got to 97 or is close to getting 100. It's... I mean, it's pretty cool!”
She then added: "It's pretty weird to say that I'm that athlete, and I hope that the next generation can maybe take it a step further or find other ways to reset records or, you know, break boundaries. Like, that's one of the most fun things that I love about sports is watching athletes push the limits of what's possible.”
Shiffrin’s historic achievements earned her a spot in the recent ESPN list ranking the top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century.
The skier took the 42nd place in a list topped by swimming legend Michael Phelps and also featuring Simone Biles (7th) and Katie Ledecky (15th). She is second among winter athletes, beyond NHL player Sidney Crosby (22): “It's flattering to be on that kind of list. And I don't love actually comparing myself with Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky or Michael Phelps or whoever, and I think being in the same sentence as them is incredible in and of itself,” she said.
“What I have to do to be number one? I mean, I don't even know. Like that's not something you do. Everybody has a different list in their own minds. Some people might put me first, and for some people, I might not be on the list because they don't know anything about ski racing and that's okay.
"I'm so grateful to be on this list and it's amazing, it shows that you've done something really well, that you've been dedicated to, that you've put work in, and that is enough for me.”
Mikaela Shiffrin: Studying Taylor Swift
Since becoming the youngest World Cup debutant in 2011 at 15 years of age, Shiffrin has learned to navigate increasing fame and unprecedented success.
Recently, as previously admitted to the New York Times, she’s been looking up at the example of another megastar, the American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift.
“When I see Taylor Swift and hear about the work that she's put in to just being prepared for this The Eras Tour (it’s) because she loves it, she loves connecting with the fans and she loves performing. And she finds the things about this that she loves,” the skier said.
“When you just look at her, the dedication is pretty clear. I'm realising that no matter what we do in life, whether it's in sports or if it's music or if it's data analysis. in order to do it really well, you have to be very dedicated and it just doesn't matter.”
Among the ‘long list’ of things she picked up from the popstar, there’s also the ability to keep focussed and motivated, despite the pressure of performing every night for 3.5 hours in front of a demanding crowd: *“*You have to find unique ways to keep it fresh and exciting and to really be passionate about it. And that's something I feel with ski racing.
"There are a lot of moments where I am tired and it's not about the sport, it's about all of the extra things that take time and energy when maybe I just want peace and quiet that day. But if you do just pick up the things that you were really passionate about and you focus really hard on those things and that keeps you dedicated and motivated.”
Mikaela Shiffrin: Picturing a future with fiance Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
While Shiffrin remains focused on the upcoming season, she has also begun to reassess her priorities in recent months.
“Now I'm 29, and I'm like, okay. I won't be ski racing forever and maybe I have quite a few years left, but when I'm not ski racing anymore, what do I want from that? And now I'm now really starting to think about this and try to take it seriously,” she told us.
In April, she announced her engagement with fellow skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who is still recovering from a serious injury suffered in January: “With Alex I have this picture of like a future with love and family and, you know, being able to actually build something that I had when I was growing up. That's really something that's really, like, special to me.”
The double Olympic champion recently went back to the hospital to support her fiancé, who faced a shoulder infection during his rehabilitation: “I would never have liked to see him in that position again,” said Shiffrin, who praised Kilde’s positive attitude.
“He’s an incredible person – she added - When he wakes up from surgery and he's sick from the medication, and he has every reason to be angry and mean, he's still nice and he's still kind, and he's still thankful to everybody around him. His attitude and who he is, it made it easier to take care of him, for the people around him. And I think it gave all of us hope that things are going to be okay.”
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Mikaela Shiffrin announced their engagement shortly after the end of the 2024 season.