Star Athlete Shiffrin Discloses over Powerful Lack of Command
Mikaela Shiffrin, a renowned alpine skiing ace, faced a tumultuous period following a series of accidents in November 2024 and early 2025. The Killington crash in Vermont and another fall in Cortina d’Ampezzo left her plagued by intrusive memories and persistent anxiety, especially during training sessions when past crashes resurfaced as distressing recollections.
In a heartfelt essay on The Players' Tribune, Shiffrin opened up about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She bravely acknowledged her internal turmoil, the fear of feeling out of control and the frustration with herself despite recognizing others had undergone worse ordeals.
Shiffrin's therapist's suspicion of PTSD prompted her to prioritize mental health recovery alongside her physical rehabilitation. The turning point in her recovery came when she confronted her fears by resuming training and competing again. Gradually, her symptoms dissipated as she adapted to competition once more.
Shiffrin made her comeback in January 2025, finishing 10th in a slalom event in Courchevel, France. Despite lingering mental obstacles, she chose to forego defending her giant slalom title at the 2025 World Alpine Ski Championships to focus on mental preparedness. remarkably, two weeks later, Shiffrin clinched her 100th World Cup victory, signaling a personal and professional recovery. By March, she had secured her 156th career podium finish, marking a significant resurgence.
Speaking on her victory in Åre, Sweden, Shiffrin felt "like herself again" at the start gate—experiencing the familiar blend of nerves, excitement, and readiness before skiing fast once more. Her journey serves as an inspiration for anyone battling mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of determination, professional support, and facing fears head-on in overcoming PTSD.
I'm not going to be able to do this, I thought as I sat down to write about my experiences with PTSD, a health-and-wellness issue that affected my mental health after a series of accidents in sports like alpine skiing. But, as I delved into science and sought help from professionals, I realized that facing my fears and prioritizing my mental health was the key to overcoming this challenge, just like Mikaela Shiffrin did on her road to recovery.
