Mikaela Shiffrin, the greatest alpine skier of all time, is turning heads again — not for shredding a slope, but for the bold declaration she just made. At Atomic’s Media Day, she confirmed she will skip all Downhill races in the upcoming 2025–26 season. That decision alone has rewritten expectations — but it’s what she hinted at next that’s got the skiing world holding its breath.
🏔️ Why She’s Saying “No” to Downhill
Shiffrin’s path has been littered with scars lately. Remember her harrowing November crash in Killington that left her with a deep puncture wound and torn obliques? She was out of competition for months, and when she returned, she was battling not just her body — but the fear. Now, she’s admitting that Downhill — the fastest, most punishing discipline — feels too risky given her recent history.
“I have Super-G open,” she told SnowBrains — but for now, Downhill is off the menu. It’s a bold move for someone whose aggressive skiing has long been her calling card.
🌟 A Season Built for Reinvention
But make no mistake — this isn’t a retreat. Shiffrin is laser-focusing on her strengths: Slalom and Giant Slalom. By narrowing her disciplines, she’s choosing precision over breadth, hoping durability and clarity will repay her in consistency and podiums.
And her role this season is bigger than just personal redemption. She headlines the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team, alongside legends like Lindsey Vonn. That means she’s not only racing for medals — she’s carrying national expectations into an Olympic year.
🏆 Flashbacks, Milestones & a Remarkable Return
It took guts to get here. Despite missing a chunk of the season, Shiffrin closed 2025 with a flourish: the slalom win at the World Cup Finals gave her 101 World Cup victories — a staggering number, especially given her injuries. Earlier, she broke the all-time podium record too.
Her accomplishments aren’t just about wins — they’re proof she can rise from the wreckage. (Yes, she even joined the ownership group behind Denver’s NWSL expansion team — showing she’s building beyond skis.
