Like many people, Shiffrin has experienced a lot of challenges.
While a lot of the kids were talented, it was hard to take your eyes off Shiffrin.
As Noonan noted, Shiffrin was at the club to learn and to compete.
Noonan wasn’t the only one who saw her potential.
As former coach Mark Schiffman put it, Shiffrin was the “most polished” kid in the bunch.
Soon, however, there was no way for anyone at the club to ignore Shiffrin’s skiing prowess.
Mike Holland, a coach at the club that young Mikaela attended, noticed the same thing.
Both Eileen and Mikaela’s father, Jeff, were skiers, too.
If you have 35 kids in a school classroom, it’s hard to get anything but mediocrity."
Her first major event took place in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
AsSki Magazinereported at the time, Shiffrin was thrilled to be out there.
She told the magazine, “It’s like a dream really coming true here.
I can’t explain it, but it’s something close to amazing.
I’m just excited to be here.”
Many were impressed by Shiffrin’s ability to correct herself while in mid-air during the event.
She said, “There I was, I’m like, ‘Grrreat.
I’m just going to go win my first medal.’
And then in the middle of the run, I’m like, ‘Guess not.'”
Unfortunately, those days had passed.
Shiffrin explained, “I never used to feel nervous.
But this past season I got so nervous I had to throw up a couple of times.”
Over 30,000 people showed up, many of them hoping to watch Shiffrin.
My team, the media.
My feelings were scattered all over the place."
When it was time to perform, Shiffrin was ready.
She easily took home the gold medal in her first event, giant slalom.
Shiffrin toldSports Illustrated, “Giant slalom is something I have a love-hate relationship with.
She said, “I wondered if it was really worth it.
“you’ve got the option to’t really control the outcome beyond your own skiing.
And that’s a really uncomfortable place to be.”
