Mikaela Shiffrin exclusive: "Amazing" to meet, exchange support with Simone Biles earlier this year
Olympics.com hears from Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin on meeting her fellow Olympic champion after their mutual support and why it's so important to lift up females in sport.
Alpine Skiing
When Mikaela Shiffrin went through a tough time crashing out of her Alpine skiing races at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 despite being a favourite, one of the loudest voices supporting her was Simone Biles.
Artistic gymnast Biles herself had been through the same thing with the 'twisties' at Tokyo 2020, forcing her withdrawal from most events and a barrage of criticism sent her way.
So, when Biles came back triumphantly this summer at Paris 2024, Shiffrin could not be happier for her friend.
The American, who was in Paris to support her fellow Team USA athletes, managed to finally meet Biles for the first time too, despite the latter's busy competition schedule.
Ahead of this weekend's start of the new FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, Shiffrin told Olympics.com that it was a chance for the two to finally exchange notes over their similar experiences in Tokyo and Beijing.
"I didn't know what to expect because obviously she was really busy in Paris right after her events, so I thought maybe we just say hi, a quick hug, congratulations," the 29-year-old revealed.
"But we sat and talked for quite a while, and talking about everything. Of course, her experience in [Tokyo] and comparing our experiences with the Olympics, but also just competing and the expectations that people have when they anticipate you're going to win everything – just the sort of similarities in that mentality.
"So it was really cool, she's just like… she just loves to laugh, she just giggles and it's contagious. It was really amazing to meet her."
Mikaela Shiffrin on supporting other female athletes
It's not just Biles who Shiffrin wants to lift up, however.
The American is outspoken about female empowerment, and believes female athletes and female sport needs to be more widely spoken about.
"In general, it's interacting with people who are doing their best in whatever they do. Female athletes, women in business, it's important that we just empower each other," she said.
"No matter who we are or what our background is or what we do, it's that we're all supportive of each other and help each other try to be successful.
"It's incredible to support other women in sports and see them be successful."
That's not to say she wants to see other women in her field succeed over her, of course. Being an elite athlete requires a competitive streak, and Shiffrin is clear about that.
"Of course, at the end of the day, I want to be the one winning," she confirmed. "But like, I also want to see growth of the sport, I want to see people interested in the sport, and having good competitions and and interesting personalities and sharing stories like that.
"That's really important, for the world to be interested."
What's next for Shiffrin and Biles?
Shiffrin's season begins this weekend with a giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, on Saturday (26 October).
That is the first race of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, which runs until March 2025, with this season's World Cup Finals taking place in Sun Valley, Idaho, USA.
Shiffrin will also be aiming to compete at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, in February.
Biles, meanwhile, has been taking part as headliner in the Gold Over America Tour, a touring exhibition show featuring Olympic and top NCAA gymnasts, following Paris.
On Wednesday, she was in Hollywood to attend the world premiere event for Part 2 of her Netflix documentary series, Simone Biles Rising.
Part 2 of the show, which comprises Episodes 3 and 4 of the four-episode series, launches on the platform on Friday 25 October.