Mikaela Shiffrin Reacts to Winning Olympic Gold After Dad’s Death

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Mikaela Shiffrin’s latest milestone was bittersweet.

I was absolutely losing it watching her win slalom on February 18th! Not only did she grab her third gold, ending an eight-year drought for that event, but it made her the most decorated Olympic skier ever! Seeing her get so emotional afterward just broke my heart – she said it all happened six years after losing her dad, Jeff Shiffrin, and you could just feel how much that win meant to her, like she was doing it for him. It was incredible, honestly.

Fighting back tears, Mikaela shared with reporters on February 18th that she’d both dreamed of and feared this very moment.

She explained that after losing someone you love, even everyday things feel brand new. It’s as if you’re starting life over, and she admits she often struggles with accepting that reality, because she deeply misses her father and doesn’t want to face life without him.

Although she was heartbroken about sharing this special achievement without her father, who passed away in 2020 after an accident at home, the medal ultimately helped her find a sense of peace.

She said, “Today, I finally felt like I could accept what’s happening. Instead of dwelling on the fact that he wasn’t here, I chose to simply be with him in that moment and share a quiet space together.”

Overcome with emotion after winning gold, Mikaela broke down in tears at the finish line before posing for a celebratory selfie with her fellow medalists using the Samsung Galaxy Olympic Edition phone. She especially wanted to acknowledge the support of her mother, Eileen Shiffrin, and her fiancé, Aleksander Kilde, who traveled to Italy to cheer her on.

She explained that having her whole team and her mom with her—especially her mom, who has always been supportive—made the moment feel extra special and meaningful, and she was very thankful for that.

And Aleksander—to whom Mikaela became engaged in 2024—was soon singing his love’s praises. 

A fellow professional skier praised Mikaela in an Instagram post on February 18th, saying her performance showed incredible mental fortitude. They highlighted how, after leaving the Olympics four years ago with uncertainty, she had clearly proven herself today.

He told her she’d silenced everyone and proven herself the best. He shared that he’d witnessed her dedication and hard work over the years, both physically and emotionally, and that she was a huge inspiration to him. He proudly declared his love for her as her fiancé.

For more standout moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics, keep reading…

Ilia Malinin, the American figure skater nicknamed “Quad God,” surprisingly fell during his free skate performance, which resulted in an eighth-place finish.

German bobsledder Laura Nolte prepares for a training session, practicing for the monobob – a one-person bobsleigh race for women.

After the women’s snowboard halfpipe event, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi took a photo with American Chloe Kim and Japan’s Mitsuki Ono, captured using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition phone.

Nika Egadze, a Georgian figure skater, took a photo with Simone Biles, the most decorated Olympic gymnast, while at the men’s singles figure skating competition.

A cameraman captured a heartwarming moment as U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin embraced after completing their second run in the women’s team combined slalom competition.

Biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot of France playfully posed with the official mascots, Milo and Tina, from the Milan-Cortina Olympics. She received the plush toys after winning a silver medal in the women’s 15km individual biathlon event.

After completing the super-G race, skier Dmytro Shepiuk wrote a message of support to his Ukrainian compatriots on a sticky note.

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women’s singles free skating team event.

Speedskater Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands cried tears of joy after discovering she’d broken the Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.

China’s Eileen Gu competes in the women’s freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.

Figure skater Maxim Naumov of the U.S. clutches a photo of his deceased parents after his performance in the men’s short program.

A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women’s freestyle slopestyle. 

Figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova of Poland celebrated her performance in the women’s singles short program with her teammates, holding up a stuffed pierogi—a popular and well-loved Polish food.

No, it’s Team Austria’s ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.

Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women’s doubles.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m loving this moment! The athletes who just won the figure skating team event are celebrating by taking a selfie with the special Olympic Edition of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 right there on the podium. It’s such a fun way to capture that incredible achievement!

Lindsey Vonn, a U.S. skier, showed her determination while training just days after suffering an ACL tear in a crash.

Alysa Liu, representing the United States, performs a Biellmann spin during her short program in the women’s single skating competition.

Jennifer Dodds of Team Great Britain looked very anxious while watching the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.

Snoop Dogg,serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.

Figure skating partners Evan Bates and Madison Chock, who are also a couple in real life, skated beautifully together during their rhythm dance routine.

Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to play hockey for the U.S. in the Olympics, competes against Sara Cajanova of the Czech Republic during the game between the United States and the Czech Republic.

Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli embraced Team Czechia’s Jakub Hrones after competing in the men’s snowboard big air qualifying round.

Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a training session.

Korey Dropkin, an American curler, celebrated with a shout after his team won against Switzerland in a mixed doubles curling match.

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2026-02-18 22:17