--- description: Mikaela Shiffrin's journey to Olympic skiing gold began with a mop in her kitchen. Here, she shows how it helped her become a champion title: Mikaela Shiffrin Explains Slalom Skiing Using A Mop image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltee6164f009213bbd/698928b78fd2ee9fb035acef/team-usa-olympics-medal-count-expectations.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Sports](/section/sports/) ## Sports Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2018 Pyeongchang Olympics](/tag/2018-pyeongchang-olympics/) ## 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Let Mikaela Shiffrin Show You How to Ski Like an Olympic Champion With A Mop in Her Kitchen  by [Sean Gregory/Pyeongchang](/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory/Pyeongchang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Feb 23, 2018 7:38 PM CUT  Silver medalist Mikaela Shiffrin #19 of the United States at the presentations after the Alpine Skiing - Ladies' Alpine Combined Slalom at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on February 22, 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea. Silver medalist Mikaela Shiffrin #19 of the United States at the presentations after the Alpine Skiing - Ladies' Alpine Combined Slalom at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on February 22, 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea.Tim Clayton - Corbis—Corbis/Getty Images  by [Sean Gregory/Pyeongchang](/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory/Pyeongchang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Feb 23, 2018 7:38 PM CUT Mikaela Shiffrin is the [best women’s skier in the world](http://time.com/5127838/mikaela-shiffrin-2018-winter-olympics/ "undefined"), a designation [she strengthened](http://time.com/5159396/mikaela-shiffrin-olympics-alpine-skiing-events/ "undefined") with [her gold](http://time.com/5159313/mikaela-shiffrin-olympic-gold-medal-giant-slalom/ "undefined") and silver medals at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang. To get to this point, Shiffrin began skiing when she was two, under the guidance of her parents Jeff, an anesthesiologist, and Eileen, a former intensive care nurse, who were both strong skiers in their own right. They carefully drilled Mikaela, 22 and older brother Taylor, on 25, on the fine points of ski racing technique. During an [interview at the Shiffrin home](http://time.com/5127838/mikaela-shiffrin-2018-winter-olympics/ "undefined") in Avon, Colorado, near Vail, this fall, Shiffrin talked about how Eileen, who’s now her head coach, would rely on household wares to instruct her daughter. What kind of tips did she give? Mikaela herself grabbed a mop and explained, which you can see in the video below. “It’s an example of my ability to visualize things,” Shiffrin says of how the lessons helped her. “And both of my parents taught me that.” So save your money on ski lessons. 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