If you’re a fan of the Winter Olympics, you probably know record-breaking skierMikaela Shiffrin.
Here are some other things you might not know about the Olympian.
Not only did she grow up skiing, but so did her family members.
She would go on to become an alpine skier in high school.
Shiffrin’s father, Jeff, was also a skier whocompeted on his Dartmouth University team.
“We were always trying to analyze, break down the sport, and get better.”
Shiffrin received high praise while in school.
Her classmates also recognized her abilities.
Although Shiffrin stood out at Burke Mountain, the alpine skier was a shy student off the slopes.
As a coach and mother, Eileen travels with and helps train Shiffrin.
This can include everything fromsetting up courses and analyzing videosto helping Shiffrinmaintain diets.
“Having my mom with me makes it feel more like home,” Shiffrin told Deadspin.
“And she helps me.
We watch skiing together a lot.
She’s somebody I throw ideas against.”
Despite working together, the mother-daughter duo see to it to maintain their close bond off the slopes.
“And she protects me.”
However, she also has some athletes she looks up to herself.
One moment, in particular when Miller was intent on trying again after missing a gate inspired Shiffrin.
“Even at a young age,” she toldSports Illustrated.
“I could relate to that.”
Miller isn’t the only athlete Shiffrin looks up to, however.
One other thing she’s sure to include in each day?
“When I tell people that, they’re like, ‘What!?'”
she toldDeadspin, referring to her routine napping.
“But you work out six hours a day and you’d sleep that long too.”
“I do it on every race, Shiffrin toldUSA Todayduring the 2018 Olympics.
One such challenge is performance anxiety, which she first experienced after the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Fortunately, Shiffrin has developed techniques, tools, and practices to help her manage anxiety.
In addition tovisualization, Shiffrin also loves music.
She doesn’t focus on breaking records
Mikaela Shiffrin has broken many records throughout her career.
On top of that, she’s thefirst skier to win $1 millionin prize money.
Despite these, and other, accolades, Shiffrin tries not to focus on breaking records.
Instead, she believes what’s gotten her so far is being laser-focused on her performance.
“But at the end of the day… My whole career, it’s been successful.
It’s been highs and lows but I’m really proud of it.”
Shiffrin doesn’t just root for athletes in the Winter Olympics she loves the Summer Olympics as well.
She also posted a sweet caption that read, “So proud of all these women.
What I saw on primetime of the Team Event tonight was inspiration and class from every one of them.
Shiffrin’s boyfriend is Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, a Norwegian skier whowon the 2020 Men’s World Cup.
Later that summer, Shiffrin posted anInstagram videoof the two smiling while riding bikes in New York.
Naturally, the duo discuss their performances post-competition and talk about how they can improve.
“It’s amazing,” Shiffrin toldThe Aspen Timesabout being in a relationship.
