Mikaela Shiffrin has given a deep insight. © APA/afp / JEFF PACHOUD

“The greatest gift”: Shiffrin speaks out with touching words

Christmas is a time for reflection – even for superstars like Mikaela Shiffrin. The American singer addressed her fans with a touching message.

26 December 2025

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Mikaela Shiffrin has had an eventful year: at the end of January, the two-time Olympic champion returned from her serious injury, which she sustained in the giant slalom in Killington in November 2024, won gold in the team combined at the World Championships in Saalbach alongside Breezy Johnson, and celebrated her 100th World Cup victory, becoming the first person in history to achieve this feat. Alongside these highlights, however, the 30-year-old also faced significant challenges. Due to her injury, she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the health setbacks of her fiancé, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, also weighed heavily on her.

This World Cup season, Shiffrin seems to be back to her old self. The two-time world champion has racked up four wins in four slalom races, and she's also back among the world's best in giant slalom. And since Kilde's comeback, her private life is gradually returning to normal. Shiffrin recently shared a message about this development, which is by no means a given.

"In recent years I have increasingly realized how rare it is that all those we love are truly healthy – and how important it is to cherish these moments." Mikaela Shiffrin

“The greatest gift I could ever wish for is to see the health, resilience, and happiness of the people around me,” she wrote on Instagram. “Over the past few years, I’ve come to realize more and more how rare it is for all those we love to be truly healthy—and how important it is to cherish those moments.”

Shiffrin: "Tears can tell a bigger story"

Her words are interspersed with impressions from her year, pictures of friends and family – and, not least, her own smile, which she rediscovered after a difficult period. "A single smile is worth more than words can express. A deep, heartfelt laugh is one of the most contagious sounds in the world," she remarked.

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According to the ski queen, it's not only worth talking about the obviously happy moments. "Tears can tell a bigger story than we ever imagine," she emphasized. "And when all these moments inevitably come, I wish for each of you that you approach them with care, breathe them in deeply, and remind yourselves: 'You are here. You are alive. You are trying. You are loved. You are probably disagreeing with someone (for a while). You are feeling. You know things. You still have so much to learn. And you are here. You are.'"

Mikaela Shiffrin at the World Cup in Courchevel. © APA/afp / JEFF PACHOUD

Shiffrin concluded her post with a congratulatory message to her fans. She'll be back in the spotlight on the slopes this Saturday, when the women's giant slalom takes place in Semmering (10:00/13:00).