Olympic Skier Mikaela Shiffrin on Competing for Team USA Amid Political Turmoil in America: ‘There’s a Lot of Hardship in the World’

Team USA alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin on Saturday told reporters during a press conference (via USA Today) that she hopes to elevate “inclusivity… diversity and kindness” at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite the current political turmoil in the United States.

When asked about representing the United States during a time of deep social and political division, she said, “I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally, and there’s a lot of heartbreak, there’s a lot of violence. It can be tough to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals in an Olympic event.