Mikaela Shiffrin, ski superstar from the USA. © APA / HANS KLAUS TECHT

"Shame on you, you traitor": Hate directed at Mikaela Shiffrin

US ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin has published hate messages she received online around the time of the Winter Olympics.

March 12, 2026

From: dpa/det

In an Instagram post, the best female alpine skier of our time shared some of the comments. "You're a fucking joke," someone wrote, calling Shiffrin a "worthless piece of shit."

Someone else wrote: "Stay in Italy, you slut." One user commented, clearly ironic: "It would be such a shame if you got injured and could never ski again." Yet another person wrote on the network: "Shame on you, you traitor."

Shiffrin became Olympic champion in slalom. © APA / HANS KLAUS TECHT

The reason for many of the insults was apparently that Shiffrin was asked about the current political situation in the USA before her start at the Winter Games in northern Italy. She then quoted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela from South Africa and expressed her hope that sport could promote values ​​such as "inclusion, diversity, and kindness," which were important to her.

Team kept comments at the Olympics secret

The athlete stayed away from social media during the Games. Her team stated that she did not see any of the hate comments while in Cortina. Furthermore, they contacted the platform operators to ensure that those specific messages could no longer be read.

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A post shared by What's the Point with Mikaela Shiffrin (@wtpwithmikaela)

The policies of US President Donald Trump and his actions against migrants were a major topic during the Olympics. Many athletes voiced their criticism – which in turn led to accusations from America that they were not patriots. Even Trump himself made a very derogatory comment about a freestyle skier in an online post.

Dominant slalom gold after Beijing disappointment

Shiffrin dominated the slalom in Cortina, winning gold and thus avenging her disastrous performance at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Back then, she was a favorite in several events but failed to win a medal. The American has spoken repeatedly in the past about how she often felt under immense pressure throughout her career. She said that for years she would vomit from the tension – especially at major events and sometimes even shortly before her races.