26-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin has been impressing the world in the Alpine Skiing event since she was just 15. Notably, she holds the record of youngest slalom champion in Olympic alpine skiing history.
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The American Winter Olympic star has won three Olympic medals in her two Winter Games appearances. Interestingly, she revealed how playing tennis has benefitted her career.
Mikaela Shiffrin has a heartwarming yet strategic reason for adding tennis to her routine
Mikaela Shiffrin was an infant when she first picked up the tennis racket. It was under the influence of her mother that she first started playing tennis, while it has now become a mother-daughter thing they do often.
Mikaela revealed she requested her coach to add tennis sessions to her routine to spend time with mom, as well as work on her speed and reflexes. She said, “One thing I requested from my coach was to include some tennis sessions whenever he saw fit, so I play as often as possible with mom. I enjoy the way it works my quickness and agility, also my focus to be able to move around the court and still have precision hitting the ball.”
Multiple Laureus Awards nominee Mikaela Shiffrin has earned a record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win ⛷🏆
Congratulations, Mikaela! We can't wait to cheer you on at the Olympics! 🎉@MikaelaShiffrin | @Olympics | @usskiteam pic.twitter.com/Ds3HLAGHLz
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 12, 2022
She further added, “That is probably the most challenging thing for me, but also the most satisfying—getting through a tough rally knowing that you didn’t sacrifice power or precision of your stroke because of fatigue.”
Tennis star Iga Swiatek considers Mikaela a ‘Role Model’
World No. 8, tennis star Iga Swiatek considers the Winter Olympic champion as a role model. Iga had revealed, after competing at the Tokyo Olympics 2022, she gained respect for Mikaela, who had appeared in two mega games herself.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 2, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Iga Swiatek of Poland serves against Fiona Ferro of France in a second round match on day four of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
US Star, Mikaela, had also praised the young tennis star for working hard and achieving success in the sport. Shiffrin hopes someday the two can face off in a friendly match on the tennis court.
On the business end, Shiffrin will now head to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Are you backing her for another medal next month?
