As the Winter Olympics approach, Mikaela Shiffrin is gaining momentum with the steady precision of a ticking clock. The 30-year-old American is currently enjoying a hot streak in the slalom discipline, having secured victory in her last five World Cup races. In the high-stakes Olympic season, where athletes are consumed by their rigorous training and mental strategies, one of Shiffrin’s pre-race rituals resembles something from a humorous children’s movie.

In a recent post on her X profile, Shiffrin shared a video of herself enjoying a handful of Haribo gummy bears just prior to hitting the slopes, captioned with a handful of grinning emojis.

“Haribo Goldbears are one of my absolute favorite things in existence. The flavor, the taste, the gumminess is just – it’s absolutely perfect. They’re better than anything,” she told GQ in her 10 Essentials video.

But what’s probably even more surprising is Shiffrin’s preferred way of enjoying her favorite treat. Though, perhaps not so surprising for a winter sports athlete after all. “Have you ever had them when you put them in the freezer?” asked Shiffrin. “Ah!”

It might be surprising to see an Olympic champion down gummy bears before competition, but she isn’t the only athlete who reaches for a sugar boost from time to time.

For instance, baseball player Bryce Harper can’t go without eating Eggo waffles before a game, while LeBron James loves Fruity Pebbles so much that he even launched a custom Nike sneaker named after and inspired by the cereal.

As for Shiffrin, in addition to disclosing her pre-race ritual, the American skier has recently shared insights into one of her weak spots within the sport.

Mikaela Shiffrin is ready to face these challenges in her career

Following her remarkable achievement of securing a 105th World Cup victory, Mikaela Shiffrin expressed, “Lock in this feeling.” Her words focused not on the difficulties he had endured during the season and in times gone by, but rather on the promising future that lies ahead.

“I have some work I want to accomplish with (giant slalom). The super-G was such a positive step, so I want to get some training there too. But it’s time for a little bit of recovery as well after the last nine weeks,” the American skier expressed.

In the previous season, Shiffrin suffered a significant injury following a fall in a giant slalom event held in Killington, Vermont.

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She sustained a nearly three-inch puncture wound in her lower abdomen, dangerously close to her colon, requiring surgery. She faced significant challenges in her physical recovery, as it required the complete rebuilding of her core muscles from the ground up.

Yet, the significant issue lay in how it altered her perspective on the speed and aggression required for giant slalom and super-G, the very disciplines in which she is now striving to rectify her past missteps. As the Winter Olympics approach, the coming weeks will reveal whether she can maintain her impressive performance.