Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn have received major recognition following standout seasons, earning ESPY nominations and places on TIME’s inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports.
Shiffrin was nominated for the ESPY Award for Best Athlete in Women’s Sports after a remarkable campaign in which she captured Olympic slalom gold, became the most decorated American alpine skier in history, matched the record with a sixth overall World Cup title, and secured a ninth career slalom crystal globe. Although she was shortlisted alongside Hilary Knight, Nelly Korda and A’ja Wilson, the award ultimately went to Wilson.
Vonn, meanwhile, was nominated for Best Comeback Athlete after returning to competition despite suffering severe injuries in a crash during the Olympic downhill. The 41-year-old revealed she is still recovering from a torn ACL, a broken ankle and a fractured tibia, having spent six weeks in a wheelchair and more than two months on crutches. Despite missing out on an Olympic medal, she said she has no regrets about pushing for gold and remains proud of what she achieved.
Shiffrin’s season was one of the most dominant of her career. She won nine of the 10 World Cup slalom races, increased her all-time World Cup victory tally to 110 and claimed Olympic gold by a commanding 1.5-second margin.
Speaking recently, Shiffrin reflected on how her triumph in Cortina helped her process the loss of her father, who died in 2020. She admitted it took years to confront her grief and described the Olympic victory as a deeply emotional moment that allowed her to feel connected to him again. While the gold medal was historic, she said the personal healing it represented meant even more.
Both skiers were also included in TIME’s first-ever list celebrating the most influential figures in global sport. Shiffrin and Vonn were joined by fellow U.S. Ski & Snowboard stars Jessie Diggins and Oksana Masters, while international sporting icons such as Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani and Jannik Sinner also featured.
Reacting to the honour, Shiffrin described the recognition as surreal and said she was humbled to be named among so many influential figures. Vonn also expressed her gratitude, saying it was inspiring to be recognised alongside such accomplished athletes and adding that her return to elite skiing had reminded her why she loves the sport and the pursuit of ambitious goals.
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