How Mikaela Shiffrin Turned Sticky Notes on Her Bathroom Mirror—and 1,000 Angry Voices—into Olympic Gold
Women's Health
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Mikaela Shiffrin, a seasoned alpine skier, turned to an unconventional yet powerful mental strategy during her preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. To combat self-doubt and外界 criticism, she adorned her bathroom mirror with sticky notes filled with motivational messages. These mantras, such as “You have the ability” and “I am loved,” aimed to shift her mindset and keep her focused on positivity and resilience. Shiffrin, who had faced a series of challenges including injuries and inconsistent performances in previous Olympics, sought to approach this event with a fresh perspective.
For years, Shiffrin’s career has been marked by both triumphs—such as winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Games—and setbacks, like her struggles during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Ahead of the 2026 Games, she invested significant time in mental preparation, working closely with her psychologist and focusing on energy conservation to avoid the chaotic routine that typically accompanies a World Cup season. However, when she arrived in Cortina, she found herself grappling with an overwhelming sense of doubt. To counteract this, she turned to her mirror mantras as a way to externalize her thoughts and reinforce her mental state.
Shiffrin’s approach highlights the importance of leveraging mental strategies to overcome performance anxiety and build resilience. By verbalizing her doubts and fears through these notes, she was able to reframe her mindset and focus on what truly mattered—enjoying the process and giving her best effort. This method not only helped her secure a gold medal in slalom but also set a record for the longest gap between individual gold medals in the same event. Her story underscores how mental preparation can be just as crucial as physical training, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to enhance their own resilience and performance under pressure.
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Originally published on Women's Health on 2/25/2026