Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her PTSD ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics
Mikaela Shiffrin, the American World Cup alpine skier and two-time Olympic Gold medalist, bravely shared her journey of being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an incident Killington, Vermont with the Players' Tribune.
In her article for the Players' Tribune, Shiffrin recounts a crash during the giant slalom race in November 2024, where she suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen and severe muscle trauma that required surgery just 12 days later. Despite this setback, she remained focused on competing that season. She described her experience of returning to the slopes, feeling off during training runs, and struggling with a lack of control over her body—something she had never faced before.
Shiffrin described the crash as a traumatic event that led to her diagnosis of PTSD. She realized that it's different for everyone, and people experience it in their own way.
"I just needed to keep doing it. Needed to keep reminding myself — proving to myself, really — that the vast majority of times when I am training or racing … nothing terrible happens," Shiffrin wrote. "The vast majority of times, I don’t end up with a puncture wound through my obliques. Like, most of the time, everything really does end up OK."
Shiffrin returned to the snow in January 2025 and went on to claim win No. 101 with the slalom at the World Cup finals in March 2025.
Is Mikaela Shiffrin competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Mikaela Shiffrin is expected to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026, according to the official Olympics website.
When do the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics start?
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are set to begin on February 6, 2026, and will run through February 22, 2026. The Paralympic Games will take place from March 6 to March 15, 2026.
Where will the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics be held?
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Italy for the third time, with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the official hosts of the event.
How to watch the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics?
The streaming service Peacock will provide coverage of every event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The coverage will kick off with the Opening Ceremony, which will take place at San Siro Stadium in Milan and will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock on Friday, February 6, 2026.