Mikaela Shiffrin on learning to ignore social media ‘haters’

Mikaela Shiffrin is growing into one of the most dominant and influential female sports stars on the planet, but she knows that her success in ski racing comes at a price – abusive comments on social media.

The 24-year-old dominated skiing’s World Cup circuit this season and has taken over the mantle of skiing’s biggest star from the retired Lindsey Vonn.

But she is aware that her profile, and active use of social media, makes herself vulnerable to trolls and negativity.

And she had sympathy for Australian Football League player Tayla Harris, who received a torrent of what she called “sexual abuse” on social media this week for a picture of her kicking a ball.

Even Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighed in, calling those responsible “cowardly grubs.”

Shiffrin said she couldn’t understand why the picture of Harris would evoke the reaction it has, and told CNN World Sport in New York she is learning to ignore her own “haters.”

The American, who has more than 800,00 Instagram followers, says she is realizing “you can’t make everybody happy.”

“Something I really value is freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of opinion,” she said.

“And their troll-like hater comments is a bummer, it hurts, it kind of gets you in the heart but at the same time it’s like, ‘OK, they’re allowed to think that and I have to be OK with that.’

“It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, but say what you want and I’ll just keep moving forward.”

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Published 1:43 PM EDT, Fri March 22, 2019

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Mikaela Shiffrin: Lead singer? Big night out?

01:37 - Source: CNN

Shiffrin dominated ski racing this season, winning a record 17 World Cup races and clinching a third straight overall crown to go with a fourth consecutive slalom world title and numerous other honors.

Her achievements moved her to fifth on the all-time list of most successful ski racers with 60 career wins, behind only Annemarie Moser-Proll, Marcel Hirscher, Vonn and Ingemar Stenmark, who holds the record with 86.

And Shiffrin is sensing a blurring of the boundaries between genders, certainly in ski racing.

“It’s not about whether you’re a female in sports who’s powerful or a male in sports who’s powerful, you’re a person in sports who’s powerful,” she said.

“That’s kind of a shift I’m starting to feel but I guess it takes a little while.

“There’s always going to be that description of gender but right now, especially in ski racing, what I’m able to achieve in the sport is very even with what a man is able to achieve in sport and that’s a really special feeling.

“The opportunity is there.”

READ: Shiffrin extends record run as Hirscher hints at retirement

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin is arguably the most dominant athlete in sport right now. The 24-year-old has taken skiing by storm, winning 17 World Cup races across four of the six disciplines last season to take her overall tally to 60 victories. Here's a look back at her short but sweet career so far.

2011 —

Shiffrin grew up skiing from an early age thanks to parents who were both competitive college skiers. She rose quickly through the junior ranks and joined the World Cup circuit two days before her 16th birthday in 2011.

2011 —

The American (right) secured her first World Cup medal in December 2011, winning a bronze in the slalom. Her potential didn't go unnoticed as she was named rookie of the year.

2012 —

Shiffrin lived up to her hype during the following season, winning her first World Cup slalom event in Lienz, Austria.

2013 —

The youngster continued her good form, winning a further three World Cup slalom races that season. She also struck slalom gold at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria.

2013 —

She ended a remarkable season with a first World Cup slalom crown, which she defended the following year.

2014 —

As world champion, the pressure was on the 18-year-old to perform at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. She didn't disappoint. Shiffrin became the youngest ever Olympic slalom champion and the first American to win the title in 42 years.

2015 —

Following her Olympic success, the American won her third straight World Cup slalom crown in 2015. She also defended her slalom title at the 2015 World Championships.

2016 —

A knee injury stalled her career the following season and she had to settle for fourth in the slalom standings.

2017 —

Shiffrin was back to her best in 2017, though, winning a fifth slalom World Cup title and adding a third World Championship gold. She also won her first overall World Cup title.

2018 —

As her reputation grew, so did her popularity and all eyes were on Shiffrin to perform at the 2018 Winter Olympics. She was affected by the weather-hit schedule and despite winning gold in the giant slalom and silver in the combined she missed out completely in slalom. But she won the World Cup overall and slalom titles again at the end of the season to confirm her status as America's new superstar.

Shiffrin has been on fire during the 2018-19 season and has made waves beyond ski racing for her level of consistency and domination. She has climbed to fifth on the list off all-time most successful ski racers, and third woman behind Lindsey Vonn and Annemarie Moser-Proll.

At the 2019 FIS World Championships in Are, Sweden she struck in the opening super-G race to score her fourth world title.

And she clinched a remarkable fourth straight slalom world title -- a streak stretching back to 2013 -- to go with a bronze in the giant slalom in Sweden.

Following the World Championships, Shiffrin won a World Cup slalom event in Stockholm to score a record-equaling 14th title of the season. She also wrapped up a third straight season slalom crown and sixth in seven years. She clinched a third straight overall crown when racing was canceled in Sochi.

Soon after she pushed the record to 15 wins - unprecedented for men or women -- with a slalom victory (her 58th) in the Czech Republic.

At the World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra in March, Shiffrin wrapped up a third Crystal Globe of 2019 with a first season title in the super-G.

Mikaela Shiffrin: The most dominant sportswoman on the planet?

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Shiffrin has grown up in the spotlight since making her debut on the circuit as a 16-year-old in 2012, and she says the sport has helped her “bloom as a person.

“I’ve definitely grown, I’ve come out of my shell in many ways,” she added. “I’ve definitely become more confident in myself.”

She pointed to her growing collection of clips from her life on social media, including a recent one of her dancing.

“In high school I wouldn’t be caught dead dancing in front of anybody,” she said. “But I always loved to dance and I wanted to be a good dancer and now I don’t really care if I’m a good dancer, I just like to dance.

“I’ve become much more comfortable kind of being silly, not feeling like I have to be perfect. Just being myself and sharing that with the world and it’s pretty cool.”