Star Athlete Shiffrin Discusses Overpowering Instability
Mikaela Shiffrin Opens Up About Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Skiing Accident
In an exclusive piece for The Players' Tribune, skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin discusses her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a severe fall in Killington, Vermont, in November 2024.
After successfully returning to the slopes towards the end of the season, Shiffrin recounted the harrowing months she spent struggling with PTSD, a condition she said felt like losing control of her body. The Killington accident left her with a dangerous abdominal wound, but it was the ensuing mental and emotional turmoil that proved most challenging.
Shiffrin vividly remembers dark thoughts and feelings of threat. "That was definitely scary," she admitted. Des pairing about her future and occasional thoughts of giving up skiing altogether were not uncommon. Her therapist first diagnosed her with PTSD, and Shiffrin believes that the Killington accident was not the only contributing factor.
Other events might have played a role in her PTSD, such as her father's sudden death in 2020 and her fiancé Aleksander Aamodt Kilde's serious crash in Wengen in January 2024. However, the crash in Cortina d'Ampezzo remains the most significant impact on her mental health.
Despite her physical recovery, Shiffrin felt far from her usual self. Her trainer noticed the change and urged her to address her mental health. Eventually, Shiffrin found a way to cope and regain control. She simply kept training, focusing on the assurance that most of the time, everything would be fine, and accidents were not inevitable.
The strategy worked, as Shiffrin went on to win her 100th and 101st World Cup victories and gold in the team combination at the World Championships in Saalbach. Now, she says, "I feel like myself again."
Source: ntv.de, sue/sid
Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine Skiing
The enrichment data reveals that Shiffrin's PTSD was caused by various factors, including the physical and psychological impact of the crash, fear of repeating the accident, lack of understanding and control, emotional and mental fatigue, and intrusive thoughts and imagery. Yet, she found solace in persistent training and a strong focus on the positive aspects of skiing.
I'm not going to be able to do this if my mental health continues to struggle, as it has been affected by the trauma from skiing accidents, like the one in Killington, and other events such as my father's sudden death and my fiancé's serious crash. However, I've learned to cope by staying focused on the positive aspects of science-backed health-and-wellness practices, particularly sports, as I adapt my routine to prioritize mental-health care.
