Keystone
After her sporting debacle at the Olympic Games, Mikaela Shiffrin fell into a mental hole last year. Now the American is running like clockwork again – also thanks to Roger Federer.
Shiffrin looks back on her meeting with Roger Federer at a press conference at the World Ski Championships in Courchevel and Méribel. This took place in March 2022 during the World Cup in Lenzerheide, the two superstars met for lunch and exchanged ideas. Just a few weeks earlier, Shiffrin had experienced a sporting debacle at the Olympic Games in Beijing and remained without a single medal.
The season dominator fell into a low, but the exchange with Federer would have helped her get out of it. “He said I should enjoy my future successes. And don’t think about the next race or training right away, »says Shiffrin. Federer recommended that she “just stop and take a deep breath. I took that advice with me this season.”
Keystone
The tips of the 20-time Grand Slam winner, who ended his own career in September, obviously helped Shiffrin a lot. She has already won eleven World Cup races this season. In addition, Shiffrin (85 wins) overtook her compatriot Lindsey Vonn in the all-time list of the best. Only one World Cup victory is missing from Ingemar Stenmark’s record.
“I often think about our conversation, I’m happier this season and don’t let setbacks get to me as much,” says the American. “I feel like this lunch came at a time when I really needed it. Roger told me that to have a long career, you have to take the time to look around, appreciate where you are and breathe it in.”
