Star athlete Shiffrin discusses a dramatic lack of command
Mikaela Shiffrin's Return to Skiing after PTSD Diagnosis
In an emotional piece for The Players' Tribune, Shiffrin revealed her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a severe fall in November 2022. The multi-time alpine skiing champion endured months of setbacks before making a comeback towards the end of the season.
The fall in Killington left Shiffrin with severe injuries, but it was not just this accident that impacted her mental health. Her PTSD diagnosis was also related to the loss of her father in 2020, her fiancé's accident in Wengen in January 2024, and a previous fall in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2024.
After her injuries healed, Shiffrin felt physically fit but struggle with an unsettling feeling of being "not like herself." This led her to confront dark thoughts and feelings of danger. "That was definitely scary," she admitted, questioning her future and sometimes thinking, "I don't care if I ever ski again." It was her therapist who first suspected she was suffering from PTSD.
Shiffrin's solution was to continue training and remind herself that most of the time, things turn out okay. Her approach seemed to work, as she went on to celebrate her 100th and 101st World Cup wins and win gold in the team combination at the World Championships in Saalbach, feeling "like myself again."
It is essential to consider the impact of multiple setbacks on Shiffrin's mental health. The death of her father in 2020 was a significant emotional blow, making her more susceptible to mental health issues when facing subsequent stressors. Her fiancé's accident and the ski crashes also compounded her mental health challenges. However, Shiffrin's resilience allowed her to overcome her fears and return to skiing competitively.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/sid
- Mikaela Shiffrin
- Alpine Skiing
I'm not going to be able to do this again, Mikaela Shiffrin admitted, grappling with the mental health struggles she faced after her dad's passing in 2020, her fiancé's accident in Wengen in January 2024, a previous fall in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2024, and a severe fall in Killington that left her with PTSD and physical injuries. Despite these setbacks, Shiffrin found solace in the science of mental-health management, sports, and health-and-wellness practices, working diligently to regain her mental and physical strength to return to alpine skiing competitively.
