Everyone already knows that alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 28, is the G.O.A.T. For one, she has the most World Cup wins of any other skier out there—88, if you were wondering—and she’s still out there breaking records. For another, she’s all about lifting up and motivating the next generation of women athletes.
Any woman playing a professional sport knows that the road to success isn’t easy, and Mikaela is the first to point out that she didn’t reach her career highs on her own. In Women Health‘s exclusive excerpts from an interview on Person to Person With Norah O’Donnell airing tonight, the Olympian shares some of her biggest inspirations and secrets to greatness.
Mikaela’s unique strength lies in making the sport her own and embracing her individuality. And she credits her parents for not only helping her succeed in her sport, but for helping her channel joy while competing. “They have been my my number one coaches and number one guides,” she says in her Person to Person interview.
Mikaela started skiing when she was around 2.5 years old, and it doesn’t seem like she’s planning on slowing down any time soon. So, finding passion and happiness in a tense environment has been key to her success.
“A lot of people think that my parents pushed me a lot because it seems like champions don’t rise to the top of sport without somebody who’s who’s kind of driving them or nagging them,” Mikaela adds. “I always felt like their first concern was whether I had the capacity and the passion to do it first. Then it was like, Okay, what can we do to help?”
Mikaela’s late father, Jeff Shiffrin, helped her find her balance—literally. Mikaela tells O’Donnell that he took a big interest in women skiers’ physiology and body mechanics, helping Mikaela develop a form that would avoid injuries. (ICYDK, some recent studies have shown that women’s bodies are more at-risk for ACL-related injuries.)
“My dad was looking into those issues when I was 10, 12 years old and he was making sure that my knees were in a really neutral position and [teaching me] bodyweight training. I think it helped my legs develop in a more straight way,” Mikaela said.
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The skier also recently credited fellow Olympian Lindsey Vonn, who retired after 82 world cup wins, for carving a new path for women in the skiing world.
“[Lindsey’s impact] has allowed me to be here now and not to think so much about the fact that it’s women versus men,” Mikaela said at an Olympics press conference in March. “It’s about which athlete (regardless of their gender) takes the stop there and I think that’s been only possible for me because of how far Lindsey got and achieved.”
Mikaela is dedicated to continuing Lindsey’s work. So, while she works hard to stay on top, she encourages the next generation of skiers to smash her records.
“The records that I reset this season, they’re not untouchable,” she tells O’Donnell. “Somebody is going to reset those again. The only way they’re going to do that is with a support system and with motivation, work ethic, and their ability to explore themselves through skiing and make the sport their own.”
Her parting advice for young skiers? “You’re going to find throughout life that individuality is your most important asset,” she explains. So, when you find a good role model, Mikaela says to “take the best pieces of them and you find your own perfect formula for yourself.”
To hear more about how Mikaela is leaving a lasting impact on the sport and motivating young skiers, you can watch Mikaela’s full length interview at 9:30pm EST tonight during Person to Person with Norah O’Donnell on CBS News.
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Olivia Evans (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Her work has previously appeared in The Cut and Teen Vogue. She loves covering topics where culture and wellness intersect. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and watching rom-coms.
