Exclusive: Mikaela Shiffrin on GOAT status, grief as 'injury to your soul' and World Championship chances

Updated 05/02/2023 at 10:51 GMT

Mikaela Shiffrin has spoken to Tina Maze in an extensive interview for Eurosport in which the record-breaking ski star discussed her possible status at the greatest of all time, her difficulties dealing with father's death and her chances at the World Championships. Stream the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships from February 6-19 live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

A GOAT meeting: Mikaela Shiffrin speaks to Tina Maze

Mikaela Shiffrin has again played down the argument about her possible status as the GOAT (greatest of all time) of alpine skiing, suggesting that no one person deserves the accolade.

In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Eurosport in which she also discussed dealing with grief after her father’s death and the upcoming World Championships in France, the 27-year-old said there were ‘too many amazing stories’ in skiing as she paid tribute to other greats of the sport.

Shiffrin, who secured a record-extending 85th World Cup win in Spindleruv Mlyn, recently surpassed the record of 82 held by fellow American Lindsey Vonn to become the most successful female skier, and is closing in on the all-time record of 86 held by Ingemar Stenmark.

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Speaking to double Olympic gold medallist and winner of four World Championship golds Tina Maze, Shiffrin argued that several skiers could be regarded as the ‘greatest’ in their sport – including Maze herself who broke numerous records in her 2013 season.

“It's a funny term, isn't it? Because all I can see is like a baby goat. You know, running around and like ‘baaa!’

“It's strange. Yeah. Because I like I still think that, like, you're one of the greatest of all time, or I think that Lindsey for sure, what she did in her career was incredible.

“Ingemar. Maybe I can surpass him in numbers, but I can't surpass his legacy. So I think there's more than one ‘GOAT’, and I guess maybe that's how I choose to think about it.

“But there are too many amazing stories in ski racing over the years, like your record-breaking season is still something that inspires me to be tougher when I feel tired.”

Shiffrin also spoke candidly to Maze about the ongoing difficulties dealing with the death of her father Jeff, who passed away in 2020 following an accident at home, aged 65.

As well as likening her grief to ‘drowning’, she revealed that she does have a greater appreciation of life despite her difficulties dealing with his death.

“I guess it's a process, like an injury. But it's not an injury that people can see. It's an injury kind of to your soul, and there's no guidelines for how to recover.

“There's no rehab, or Doctor who can say, ‘yeah, now your ACL is strong, and you can compete’. It's like, every day you feel like you're drowning.

“And do you feel you can't survive the day, and then you survive the day, and you go to sleep and you wake up and you realise, ‘yesterday, I was drowning, and I thought I wouldn't survive, but I did’.

“It's a different experience to just to be in so much pain that you can't describe and still survive.

She added: “I feel more aware of the moments that happen now. I'm always looking forward. But appreciating these moments as well. And yeah, appreciate what I do have now because I know how easily it can go away.

“For the rest of my life, I'm never going to be able to grasp the idea that I can't talk to my dad anymore.

“But I know how fast that can go away. Something you thought was sure would always be there is just not there. So all of this can be done in one second. So it's like, I appreciate being here.”

'She's won by a mile!' - The run from Shiffrin that sealed an 85th World Cup win

Ahead of the World Championships, which can be seen exclusively on discovery+ and Eurosport, Shiffrin is tipped to compete, and win, in the giant slalom, slalom and super-G.

However, despite her glittering career, she is well aware that nothing is guaranteed, especially after a disappointing showing in the Beijing 2022 Olympics where she walked away empty handed.

But Shiffrin says the experience means she is ‘not afraid’ of not winning.

“I think I do care. I mean, if I walked away from the World Champs with no medals, I would be disappointed. Especially after the Olympics, then that's going to be a bummer.

“But I also went through the Olympics. It was hard. I survived. It's fine. So yeah, I feel like I don't feel pressure.

“But you know, you go to World Championships and you go for gold. And you have fun. I have some chances.

She added: “You know, the best thing would be in the first races, you can get a medal because then you're like, ‘Okay, I got one then it's fine’.

"Yeah, but I think I just need to race as if I already won a medal, and forget about the worry if I don't. I’m not afraid of not winning a medal now.”