Mikaela Shiffrin is making headlines before the new ski season even kicks off — and this time, it’s not a win that’s making waves. At Atomic’s recent Media Day, the alpine legend dropped a bombshell: “No Downhill” — she confirmed she will skip all downhill events in the 2025–26 season.
It’s a dramatic reversal for a skier who once dominated across every discipline. And with the 2026 Winter Olympics looming, this decision has people asking: Is this a calculated pivot or a signal of deeper struggles?
🏔 Why She’s Stepping Away from Downhill
Shiffrin’s recent seasons have been marred by injuries and time off. Her crash in Killington in November 2024 left her with serious damage — a punctured abdomen and torn oblique muscles. She hasn’t shied from admitting the toll it’s taken on both her body and mind.
By ruling out downhill entirely, she’s signaling something bold: caution over ambition. She’s leaving that discipline behind (for now), focusing instead on technical events she knows she can control. As she explained:
“I have Super-G open… but for this year, it’s no Downhill.”
That “no downhill” posture isn’t new — she also sat out the discipline last season — but this time, it feels more definitive. The Olympic year raises the stakes significantly.
🌟 The Stakes Get Higher
Her spot on the 2025-26 U.S. Alpine Ski Team was reaffirmed recently, alongside star veterans like Lindsey Vonn. But being named to the roster might now come with extra scrutiny. Skipping an entire discipline puts pressure on her to deliver elsewhere.
Even more symbolic: Shiffrin’s one-word social media reaction to being named — “Team ❤️” — felt like more than celebration. It felt like a quiet promise to recommit.
And her performance last season suggests she’s capable of executing such a focused plan: she closed the 2024-25 campaign with her 101st World Cup win, despite having missed time due to that crash.
