There’s no assurance that an athlete with 101 World Cup wins, 18 global medals, and records like 17 victories in a season would be immune to online trouble. Mikaela Shiffrin, the Queen of Alpine Skiing, has certainly earned this impressive stack of accolades. Yet, despite her success, she continues to face the wrath of trolls. It all started to spiral in 2022, during the Beijing Winter Olympics, when Shiffrin crashed out of three events and was met with a storm of online hate. Her response? “There will always be turkeys.” But now, this chapter has taken a new turn—one with an even more unsettling twist.

Fast forward to 2025, Mikaela has a newer hurdle to deal with. It’s not about medals or DNF slips this time. It’s about identity. And Shiffrin has something to say. In her shocking confession, the skiing legend revealed that fake profiles are impersonating her, tricking fans, sending messages, and spreading falsehoods. And worse? People believe them. “This seems to be happening a lot more lately,” she wrote on Thread, “but I wanted to let you all know that if you receive a communication from someone claiming to be me, it is definitely NOT me.”

No, it’s not just some random spam account. These impersonators are copying her photos, using her name. It’s eerily convincing. “The only real account I have is the account with the official blue check mark. Sadly, there’s so much fake content and accounts out there these days it’s hard to know what is true or not. 😣” She added further.

“I wish I had more time to reach out to fans,” she added, “but the gym, mountains, fam, & sponsors + media calls!” When Mikaela Shiffrin wrote that, she wasn’t making excuses. She was telling the truth. After a brutal crash in Killington that left her with a tragic abdominal injury, Shiffrin returned to snow only January. In just weeks, she clawed her way back, pairing with Breezy Johnson for gold at the World Championships and capturing her 100th World Cup win. Makes sense that she would hardly have time to deal with online impersonators.

Then, in March, with the odds stacked against her, rutted courses, warm Sun Valley weather, and unpredictable snow, Shiffrin delivered a masterclass in Slalom, claiming her 101st win and ending her season with unmatched grace. But that said, Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t the only one who has felt the brunt of online impersonation.

Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t the only one

Mikaela Shiffrin isn’t alone in this unsettling digital struggle. Big names across sports and entertainment are finding themselves caught in a web of impersonators. NBA superstar LeBron James? Yes, he’s had a fake account. MLB’s Aroldis Chapman? Same. Even NHL icon Connor McDavid has been impersonated by fakes. And it’s not just athletes. A fake Nintendo of America account once stirred chaos before it finally got suspended.

It’s becoming harder and harder to know what’s real and who’s real. One copied photo, a familiar name, and suddenly, fans are being tricked into thinking they’re talking to their heroes. For athletes like Shiffrin, it’s not just frustrating — it’s scary. This isn’t about vanity. It’s about trust. And protecting the real bond they’ve built with fans who just want to believe. Adding to this is the psychological toll of seeing your identity misused, your words faked, and your followers misled. That’s the new frontier of harm.