Mikaela Shiffrin is no stranger to comparisons! As she preps for the upcoming FIS Ski World Cup season and chases her elusive 100th World Cup win, she finds herself caught in a list. The alpine skiing legend recently found herself on the 100 professional athletes of the 21st century list. Mikaela ranked 42nd alongside other legends like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles. It comes as no surprise that Mikaela is on the list. After all, she has won 97 World Cup races and three Olympic medals! While each athlete brings something different to the table, it was no surprise that the list brought in a lot of comparisons. And Mikaela is not enjoying it!

As Mikaela Shiffrin herself puts it, “It’s flattering to be on that kind of list. And I don’t love actually comparing myself with Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky or Michael Phelps or whoever, and I think being in the same sentence as them is incredible in and of itself.” She strongly believes that the lists are no representation of what an athlete can and cannot do. “What do I have to do to be number one? I mean, I don’t even know,” she mused.

Standing atop the podium is definitely fun, but to Mikaela, it seems like the journey is a bigger thing. “Some people might put me first, and for some people, I might not be on the list because they don’t know anything about ski racing, and that’s okay,” she added. Mikaela speaks with humility, but make no mistake—her mind stays focused on personal improvement! However, this confidence to talk about the comparisons is an inspired one. And inspired by an unlikely individual!

Drawing from the greatness of another pond, Mikaela’s source of inspiration is none other than pop star Taylor Swift. That’s right, Mikaela Shiffrin is a Swiftie! “When I see Taylor Swift and hear about the work that she’s put in to just being prepared for this The Eras Tour (it’s) because she loves it, she loves connecting with the fans, and she loves performing. And she finds the things about this that she loves,” she said passionately. But that’s not all! This connection brings together sisterhood and shared experiences.

Mikaela and her love for Taylor have been so deep that she even attended a concert in Denver! She was joined by her boyfriend and teammates. But even the concert wasn’t all about enjoyment; it was seeing dedication in action. As Mikaela herself puts it, “When you just look at her, the dedication is pretty clear. I’m realizing that no matter what we do in life, whether it’s in sports or if it’s music, or if it’s data analysis. In order to do it really well, you have to be very dedicated, and it just doesn’t matter.” But Taylor Swift and music are not just about keeping her motivated; it is also about finding her space and rhythm as well!

A love for music that dates back in time!

When the slopes and constant comparisons start to affect Mikaela’s love for skiing, she turns to her comfort zone. She finds her way back to what keeps her love alive. Taylor Swift’s musical relief! As Mikaela herself puts it, “There are a lot of moments where I am tired, and it’s not about the sport, it’s about all of the extra things that take time and energy when maybe I just want peace and quiet that day.” Evidently, she is a true Swiftie at heart.

The young girl from Vail used music beyond Taylor’s rhythms to hype herself up for races. “I use music to help get excited for a race. I use music to help calm down after a race,” said Mikaela. “I use music to cry harder when I’m crying or to laugh harder when I want to laugh.” Whether she’s winning season after season or singing along to tunes, she grooves to her own rhythm.

And when the dust on comparison settles, all of it truly “just doesn’t matter”! In the end, the only thing that sets you free is your love for the sport. As Mikaela’s inspiration, Taylor Swift puts it, “The best people in life are free.”