Eight years ago in PyeongChang, as Mikaela Shiffrin competed, her father Jeff—renowned in the skiing world for his unwavering support and his passion for photographing ski races, capturing everyone, not only his daughter—clutched his hat in the South Korean chill. “Oh my God!” he exclaimed. As the final competitor in the giant slalom, Italy’s racer, descended the mountain, it grew increasingly clear that her time would not surpass Mikaela’s, meaning Jeff Shiffrin’s daughter was moments away from securing her second Olympic gold medal.
“This validates all of her hard work,” stated Jeff, whose consistently notable mustache had collected its share of icicles over the years while he supported his daughter. He was likely the most joyful person on Earth at that time.
Two years later, in 2020, Jeff Shiffrin passed away due to an accident at his Colorado home. He was 65. His death was a devastating blow not only to his family—his wife Eileen, daughter Mikaela, and son Taylor—and the elite skiing community that held him in high esteem, but also to anyone who respects a sports parent capable of fostering top-tier talent—Jeff had Mikaela on skis at age two—while, by all reports, preserving a positive and affectionate bond with his gifted child.
It was therefore entirely appropriate that nearly ten years after that day in South Korea, Shiffrin spoke emotionally about her father on Wednesday following her victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Despite her long-standing dominance in the sport—she holds the all-time record of 108 World Cup wins—her failure to medal in her previous eight Olympic races since PyeongChang placed immense pressure on her to perform in the slalom, her premier event. She succeeded unequivocally.
“This is a moment I have envisioned,” she informed the media gathered in Cortina. “I have also been deeply afraid of this moment. Every action you take after losing a loved one feels like a new beginning. It’s akin to a rebirth. I frequently find myself resisting this reality. I don’t wish to experience life without my father.” She struggled to hold back tears. “Perhaps today was the first time I could truly embrace this reality,” she continued. “Rather than focusing on his absence in this moment, I chose to share a quiet moment with him.”
Later in the press conference, Shiffrin shared that she has seldom experienced such a reflective connection with her late father. “Navigating grief has been difficult for me because I don’t experience the profound spiritual connection with my loved one that many people describe,” Shiffrin explained. “People speak of sensing a presence. I haven’t felt it in that manner. My connection comes from thinking about my dad constantly. So I feel linked to him through my thoughts and by speaking of him. But, admittedly, I’ve sometimes felt envy towards those who claim to feel that person, saying, ‘Oh, they’re here with me. They’re guiding me today.’ And I think, ‘Where?’ Like, ‘The f-ck.’” Shiffrin laughed. She apologized for her language, though it was unnecessary. Countless people understand this feeling.
“Why do you get to feel that?” she asked. “Why can’t it just be simpler today?’”
In the aftermath of this significant Olympic victory, perhaps coping with grief will become somewhat easier for Shiffrin. That is a result for which the entire world can hope.
After winning the slalom but before her press conference, Shiffrin posted a lengthy message on Instagram detailing her mindset and approach to the race. Five paragraphs consisted solely of the words, “I won.” In the second-to-last paragraph, she wrote, “I won. I f-cking won. This, right here, is the lottery and I won.” She concluded with, “Oh, and I got a medal too.”
During her press conference, I inquired remotely from Milan—unfortunately, Olympic scheduling made an in-person presence impossible—about how composing that message prior to the race had assisted her.
(She clarified that she did not write it immediately after the podium ceremony, as she was rushed from one international TV interview to another, then to additional press interviews and the conference. She admitted she is not the fastest writer under time constraints.)
Shiffrin said she had actually written it three days earlier. “I’ve been doing a lot of work with my psychologist recently, and with my entire team; it’s been like one big, happy family learning about psychology and what matters most to me. I’ve been much more outwardly expressive to myself than I normally am,” Shiffrin stated. “A small act of manifestation.”
