After days of speculation in Swiss media, Mikaela Shiffrin has firmly shut down retirement rumors today, March 21, confirming she will return to the World Cup circuit next season. Speaking to Austrian TV station ORF at the World Cup Finals in Kvitfjell, Norway, the American made clear that stepping away from the sport is not on her immediate agenda—despite reports suggesting she could retire as early as this weekend.
The speculation, first reported by Blick, pointed to several factors that could push Shiffrin toward retirement, including her already unmatched success, recent injuries, her engagement to Norwegian ski racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, and a desire to spend more time closer to home.
With 109 World Cup victories, multiple overall titles, and three Olympic gold medals, the argument was simple: Shiffrin has little left to prove. Reports also noted that she is within reach of matching Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s record for overall World Cup titles. Shiffrin is poised to take home the big crystal globe for the sixth time after claiming the season title in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, and 2022-23.
Particulary her crash in Killington, Vermont, in November 2024 left the legendary ski racer with both physical and mental scars. In Killington, a ski pole punctured her abdomen during a crash in the Giant Slalom race, leading to a lengthy recovery. Since the crash, the American has not competed in downhill and only raced two Super-G races—most recently this month in an attempt to defend the season title against rising star Emma Aicher.
Another factor fueling speculation is Shiffrin’s personal life. Since the death of her father in 2020, she has spoken openly about the challenges of spending long periods away from family while competing primarily in Europe. Her engagement to Kilde has also led to questions about what comes next. The Norwegian ski racer himself is working his way back from serious injuries sustained in 2024, and recently ended his season early to focus on recovery. Blick even suggested the possibility of a joint retirement, with the couple stepping away from the sport together, and focusing on their personal life instead.
However, Shiffrin firmly put those rumors to rest in an interview with ORF—the state owned Austrian TV station. “I am racing. I am racing next season. I’m not stopping yet,” she said, pushing back on suggestions that her future depends on whether Kilde continues.
Shiffrin added that both she and Kilde are planning to train through the summer, raising the prospect of spending more time preparing together. At the same time, she acknowledged the broader context of the rumors. “It’s fair to have these questions,” she said. “I’m getting close to the end of my career, and he is as well, and there is a lot of questions out there, but these are just rumors.”
Her confirmation that she will compete next season brings clarity at a crucial moment, as she remains locked in a tight battle for the overall Crystal Globe heading into the final races of the season. Shiffrin will race in the Super-G tomorrow, March 22, in a bit do earn more points to increase the margin she has on Aicher, who is in close pursuit for the overall season title. The German is now less than 100 points behind Shiffrin in the season’s standings after placing fifth in the downhill today. A victory in the Super-G could push the 22-year-old ahead of the Team USA ski racer. It is poised to remain an exciting battle for the big crystal globe until the very end.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
As of now, she has secured the Overall Globe. I believe there are many teams (other than USST) that look forward to Shiffrin’s retirement but as long as she has the desire she will continue. USA! USA! USA!
Shiffrin! Shiffrin! Shiffrin!