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Decorated Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin wants to represent her own “values” at this year’s Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
“I think there’s a lot of adversity in the world globally and there’s a lot of heartache. There’s a lot of violence. It can be hard to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals at an Olympic event,” the two-time gold medalist said during her media availability in Italy on Saturday.
During her extended response, Shiffrin read aloud a quote from Nelson Mandela, which was also recited during the opening ceremonies.
Mikaela Shiffrin speaks during a press conference during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 7, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images)
“‘Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where we can all flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, class, caste or other social markers of difference,'” Shiffrin said, reading the quote from her phone.
“And for me, as it relates to the Olympics, I really hope to show up and represent my own values. Values of inclusivity, values of diversity and kindness, and sharing, persistence, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day, and the values that we bring and put out on the mountain and on the hill every single day that have supported me, that I’ve supported me every single day.
“I am truly grateful to be here, and my greatest hope for these Olympic Games, from a broader perspective, is that it is a beautiful show of cooperation and competition.”
Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates winning an alpine skiing women’s world championship slalom in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
The question to Shiffrin comes on the heels of several American athletes being asked how they felt about representing the United States at the Australian Open as it pertains to President Donald Trump’s current second term.
Anti-ICE protests took place in Milan last week following the announcement that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be deployed at this year’s Games.
Officials from the US embassy told the Associated Press last week ICE agents would support diplomatically security clearance and would not be running any immigration enforcement operations as they would be in a foreign country.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in the city, citing images of masked agents in Minneapolis.
People take part in an Anti-ICE demonstration ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
“This is a militia that kills, a militia that goes into people’s homes and signs their own permission slips. It is clear that they are not welcome in Milan, no doubt,” Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE’s reported security involvement was revealed.
