The School of Greatness

The Hidden Cost of Winning Too Much | Mikaela Shiffrin

February 13, 2026

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  • Focusing on the process, such as executing the next turn, is essential for winning, as thinking about the outcome of winning sabotages performance for Mikaela Shiffrin. 
  • External success, like winning by large margins, can create crippling performance anxiety when expectations shift, leading to physical manifestations like the gag reflex. 
  • Greatness, as defined by Shiffrin, is the feeling of inspiration and awe experienced when witnessing or achieving something that gives you 'the shivers down your spine,' rather than simply holding a title like 'GOAT.' 

Segments

Early Skiing Idols and Philosophy
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(00:01:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Mikaela Shiffrin’s early goal was to be the best skier, inspired by Bode Miller, leading her to focus on the process of making good turns rather than Olympic titles.
  • Summary: Shiffrin wrote down goals like being the youngest Olympic gold medalist, which she achieved at 18. She was heavily inspired by Bode Miller’s documentary, ‘Flying Downhill.’ Observing Miller’s Olympic experiences steered her away from prioritizing the Olympics, focusing instead on the fundamental enjoyment of skiing well.
Winning Focus vs. Process Focus
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(00:07:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Thinking about winning causes Shiffrin to lose races; success requires focusing strictly on the technical process between the start and finish line.
  • Summary: Some athletes win by focusing on the desire to win, but for Shiffrin, this guarantees failure. Her mindset must remain fixed on the immediate task, such as executing the next turn, which ultimately allows her to win.
Managing Early Success and Pressure
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(00:08:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The phase following an unexpectedly dominant season, where margins of victory were massive, created intense, unsustainable external expectations that triggered performance anxiety.
  • Summary: Shiffrin’s early career was marked by exceeding expectations, but one season where she won by over two seconds per race set an impossible standard. The subsequent season’s normal wins (e.g., by seven tenths of a second) were negatively spun by the media, initiating a phase of severe performance anxiety and physical symptoms like vomiting before races.
The Impact of External Opinion
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(00:13:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Negative media framing of victories that didn’t meet inflated expectations led to a multi-year period of performance anxiety centered on disappointing others.
  • Summary: Shiffrin experienced anxiety triggered by media questions that insinuated negative feelings if she didn’t win by a specific margin. This pressure extended to her closest circle, who also expressed desires for her to return to those massive winning margins.
Maternal Coaching Philosophy
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(00:24:36)
  • Key Takeaway: A core family philosophy, taught by her mother, is that activities are more fun when approached methodically to achieve competence, requiring study and practice.
  • Summary: Shiffrin’s mother instilled the idea that understanding the fundamentals makes any activity, from math to sports, enjoyable, comparing it to solving a fun puzzle. This approach was applied to her brother’s soccer skills after a growth spurt, where dedicated practice restored his coordination and speed.
Managing Anxiety with Psychology
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(00:28:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Sports psychologists helped Shiffrin reframe fear by focusing on controllable technical aspects and learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable uncertainty of outcomes.
  • Summary: The anxiety manifested as a choking sensation that triggered a gag reflex, which was addressed through media prep and learning to balance self-prioritization with the opinions of loved ones. A key lesson was becoming comfortable being uncomfortable, especially when facing unknown outcomes in high-stakes, long race days.
Conflict Over the All-Time Wins Record
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(00:38:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Shiffrin actively resisted the narrative of breaking the all-time wins record because the ‘GOAT’ label implies singularity, preferring the ongoing debate among multiple greats.
  • Summary: The record was never a personal goal, and she felt conflicted about taking the title from the previous holder, Ingemar Stenmark. She believes the debate over who is the greatest is a beautiful aspect of sports, and her goal is simply to remain part of that ongoing conversation.
Fear of Future Judgment
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(00:41:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Shiffrin’s primary career fear moving forward is not injury, but the potential negative public reaction if she fails to medal at the next Olympics, echoing past criticism.
  • Summary: Despite having Olympic and World Championship gold medals, she worries about what people will say if she doesn’t medal again, especially since critics still point to her lack of Olympic gold. She acknowledges that fear exists when crashing at high speeds, but chooses to proceed anyway.
Final Life Lessons
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(00:53:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The three essential truths Shiffrin leaves are that failure is not final, compromise is necessary for relationships, and one must never forget the foundational lessons learned from early life experiences.
  • Summary: Failure serves as a lesson that ultimately aids success, requiring a willingness to learn from setbacks. Compromise is identified as a vital component of navigating love and relationships. The wisdom gained from one’s roots and upbringing is a continuous source of learning throughout life.