--- description: Find out why Mikaela Shiffrin was selected for TIME‘s 2026 list of the most influential people in sports. title: TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026: Mikaela Shiffrin image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt10accdd3f1a82f46/6a208a4bd3d558633456832f/T100SPORTS-2026-Web-Mikaela-Shiffrin.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9%2Coffset-x0.00%2Coffset-y25.97 --- Jun 09, 2026 # Mikaela Shiffrin by [Sean Gregory](/author/sean-gregory/) ## Sean Gregory Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent  Diego Souto—Getty Images Mikaela Shiffrin, already the winningest skier of all time, showed the world how to meet a moment under intense scrutiny. Despite dominating her sport this decade, [Shiffrin](https://time.com/7343753/mikaela-shiffrin-2026-olympics-milano-cortina-interview/ "undefined") had failed to medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. At the Milano Cortina Games in February, Shiffrin’s performance in her first two events—the [team combined](https://time.com/7377391/mikaela-shiffrin-olympics-2026-combined-slalom/ "undefined"), where her subpar slalom cost her and teammate [Breezy Johnson](https://time.com/7378579/breezy-johnson-engaged-olympics-gold-medal-interview/ "undefined") a podium spot, and the giant slalom, where she finished 11th—left many wondering if she’d fold under Olympic pressure. But on Feb. 18, in the last ski race of the Games, Shiffrin [won the slalom](https://time.com/7379357/mikaela-shiffrin-wins-gold-2026-winter-olympics/ "undefined") by 1.5 seconds, the largest margin in any alpine-skiing event [since 1998.](https://x.com/nzaccardi/status/2024114338240332181 "undefined") In her post-race press conference, [Shiffrin spoke movingly](https://time.com/7379424/mikaela-shiffrin-gold-medal-olympics-father/ "undefined") about reaching the pinnacle without her father, Jeff, who died in an accident in his home in 2020\. “This was a moment I have dreamed about,” she said. “I've also been very scared of this moment. Everything in life that you do after you lose someone you love is like a new experience. It's like being born again. I still have so many moments where I resist this. I don't want to be in life without my dad.” She fought back tears. “And maybe today was the first time that I could actually accept this reality.” Shiffrin finished the 2026 season in March by clinching her sixth Crystal Globe, given to the world’s best all-around alpine skier. 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