Athletes across all sports face major or minor setbacks, but what matters the most is how they pull back up, like Mikaela Shiffrin does. The alpine GOAT, known for holding 88 World Cup wins and 99 career wins, has girded up for the ongoing season. The 2023 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup has stepped into its 58th year and just before the second event, a mishap caught attention.

In a sport where athletes are prone to severe injuries, the recent left knee injury of the Olympian wasn’t a new thing. Though the slippery slopes posed a threat to her, it didn’t dim her spirit. The 28-year-old made her way to the clinic with a limp, but her knee was fine with no major damage. On a similar note, she shed light on how athletes defy all odds to dream big. Also, she stood tall as an inspirational figure and wowed the internet with her positive attitude and sunny optimism.

Mikaela Shiffrin has a special motivational message

Ahead of the women’s slalom on November 11 at Levis, the five-time alpine skiing World Cup all-around champ faced a hitch. Though the initial impact of the tumble on her left knee was considerable, she’s doing better now. Besides thanking the US medical staff and the Finnish clinics, she spoke about something else. Motivating the youngsters through her musings, she tried to break down the horrors of the sport while also being the guiding light. The caption of the Instagram post reads, “we see crashes very often in skiing. I know mine here isn’t the worst, the first, or the last—that’s the risk we take. Still…it was a bit of a touchpoint with reality. We’re all so strong yet also fragile at the same time.”

She further added, “Whether your recovery time is 1 day, 2 weeks, or 2 years, that part of the sport (any sport) is literally *never* *not* scary. For any young athletes out there grappling with a fear of falling, a fear of failing, a fear of pain (fear in general!), keep reminding yourself that you are not alone. You really don’t need to be immune to fear in order to do amazing things in your career and life. We all walk through life hand-in-hand with our goals, dreams, and fears—always.”

As per Shiffrin’s words, she stressed on the fear of failing or just fear and how easy it is to overcome it. Moreover, she added that only risk takers can reach the pinnacle. No road is smooth, and smooth roads don’t lead to glory. When faced with injuries, the main mantra of taking it slow is what the Olympian follows. Having said so, another skier needs a special mention for overcoming tumultuous odds like Shiffrin does consistently at the highest level.

Lindsey Vonn’s unwavering spirit is a paragon of professional excellence

In her entire ski career, Lindsey Vonn herself can’t keep count of the injuries she has fallen victim to. She missed the 2014 Winter Olympics, and that was one of her greatest regrets in her rather long and illustrious career. Her therapist had a significant role to play in taking her out of bed at times. But, to the retired Olympian, each setback was a learning experience.

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She said, “Every time I’ve been injured, it’s given me something new to be thankful for and to appreciate and to really, I dunno, grow as a person,” she explained. “So, I think skiing has really, it’s obviously my passion and my love, but it’s also my backbone.” Both the skiers standing strong as inspirational forces have a lot more to offer to the world. As the slalom day of Shiffrin nears, time will tell whether she’ll participate or not.

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