There is a World Cup slalom race for women on the International Ski Federation’s schedule Thursday, and any time such an event is staged, Mikaela Shiffrin is a threat — no, a favorite — to win it. She has won seven season-long titles in that discipline, more than any woman. She has won 55 World Cup slalom races, more than any skier of either gender. She has been and is and will be a force.

Covering Shiffrin for the past decade has meant delving deep into her emotions and anxieties. For an elite athlete with an international profile, she is uncommonly open and honest about her state of mind, including her insecurities. The stories that follow tend to focus on how she has handled situations mentally, which is important, particularly after the death of her father Jeff in 2020. Read More