CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated Alpine skier of all time, is grateful to be at her fourth Winter Olympics. It’s an ‘honor’ and a ‘privilege’ to be part of this event with the red, white and blue on her chest, she said Saturday, Feb. 7 during media availability in Cortina.
But Shiffrin wants to make it clear that she’s representing her own personal values at these Games, not those of President Donald Trump’s administration back home.
Shiffrin came to Cortina prepared to be asked about whether she felt conflicted competing on behalf of the United States given the international backlash to immigration raids championed by the White House. She wrote down, in full, the Nelson Mandela quote actor Charlize Theron read aloud during the Milano Cortina opening ceremony the night before:
‘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, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.’
She added, in her own words: ‘For me, as this related to the Olympics, I really hope to show up and represent my own values. Of diversity, and kindness, and sharing. Tenacity, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day.
‘… My greatest hope for this Olympic Games, from a broader perspective, is that it is a beautiful show of cooperation and of competition.’
Team USA athletes here in Italy known they are the face of their home country this month, at a time when political decisions by the Trump administration have earned worldwide criticism.
Shiffrin acknowledged the presence of ‘hardship,’ ‘heartbreak’ and ‘violence’ around the globe, which ‘can be tough to reconcile … when you’re also competing for medals in an Olympic event.’ In the U.S. specifically, ICE raids ordered by the Trump administration have led to the killing of two civilians in Minnesota: Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The Guardian reported Jan. 28 that eight people have been killed by ICE or died while in ICE custody in 2026.
American athletes at Milan’s opening ceremony Friday night received raucous applause from the stadium of 80,000. But when the camera cut to vice president JD Vance, their whoops quickly changed to boos. That message of disapproval came after IOC president Kirsty Coventry urged fans to be ‘respectful’ toward the U.S. contingent.
Reach USA TODAY Network sports reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.
