The realm of elite athletics has once again turned its spotlight on Mikaela Shiffrin, the three-time Olympic champion, whose unprecedented achievements in alpine skiing have earned her a coveted nomination for Best Athlete – Women’s Sports at the 2026 ESPY Awards. This nomination places her among a distinguished cohort of female athletes who have redefined excellence in their respective fields, underscoring a season that many are calling the most dominant in alpine skiing history. Shiffrin stands alongside hockey luminary Hilary Knight, world No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda, and WNBA powerhouse A’ja Wilson, highlighting the intense competition within this premier category that celebrates the pinnacle of female athletic prowess. The ESPY Awards, presented annually by ESPN, serve as a global stage to honor the year’s most outstanding athletes and performances across a diverse spectrum of major sports. The much-anticipated ceremony is scheduled for July 15, broadcasting live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC from the iconic David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, promising an evening of recognition for unparalleled sporting achievements.
The Prestige of the ESPY Awards and "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports"
The ESPY Awards, an acronym for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, were first conceived in 1993 by ESPN to celebrate individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances during the calendar year. Unlike some sports awards determined by sportswriters or official bodies, many ESPY categories are open to public voting, adding a layer of fan engagement and popular appeal. Over the decades, the ESPYs have evolved into a significant cultural event, drawing athletes, celebrities, and sports enthusiasts alike. The "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports" category, in particular, has become one of the most prestigious, recognizing an athlete whose overall performance, dominance, and impact transcend their specific discipline. Past winners include titans like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Candace Parker, establishing a legacy of recognizing women who not only excel but also inspire. A nomination in this category is, in itself, a profound acknowledgment of an athlete’s extraordinary year, signaling their arrival, or sustained presence, at the very zenith of global sports. For Shiffrin, whose sport, alpine skiing, typically enjoys significant but less frequent mainstream media attention outside of Olympic cycles, this nomination represents a critical cross-sport recognition, elevating her profile and that of her discipline to a broader international audience.
A Season of Unrivaled Dominance: The Road to the Nomination
Mikaela Shiffrin’s 2025-26 season was not merely great; it was a statistical anomaly, a masterclass in consistency, skill, and competitive fire that solidified her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. The season began with a clear intent, as Shiffrin quickly established her supremacy in her favored technical disciplines. Her performance in the World Cup slaloms was particularly breathtaking, as she secured victory in nine out of the ten races held throughout the season. This astonishing run culminated in her clinching her ninth career Slalom Crystal Globe, a title she secured even before the Olympic Winter Games commenced. This achievement alone was historic, shattering the previous record of eight discipline globes, a mark she had shared with alpine skiing legends Lindsey Vonn and Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark. The consistency required to dominate a single discipline across an entire World Cup season, navigating varying snow conditions, courses, and international competition, is a testament to her meticulous preparation and unwavering focus.
Beyond her slalom prowess, Shiffrin also demonstrated remarkable versatility and strategic acumen, ultimately securing her sixth Overall Crystal Globe. This prestigious title, awarded to the athlete accumulating the most World Cup points across all disciplines, placed her in an exclusive club, tying her with Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Pröll for the most overall titles by a woman. What makes this feat even more extraordinary is that she achieved it while scoring World Cup points exclusively in slalom and giant slalom. Unlike many of her peers who compete across all five disciplines (slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and combined) to maximize points, Shiffrin’s targeted approach yielded unparalleled success, underscoring the depth of her dominance in her chosen events. Her ability to consistently perform at such a high level, season after season, speaks volumes about her sustained physical conditioning, mental fortitude, and technical mastery.
Olympic Gold in Cortina: A Performance for the Ages
The culmination of her remarkable World Cup season arrived with the intense pressure of the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina. It was here, on the sport’s biggest stage, that Shiffrin delivered one of the most commanding and memorable performances in Olympic alpine skiing history. The women’s slalom event, typically a nail-biting affair where races are decided by mere hundredths of a second, became a showcase for Shiffrin’s unparalleled talent. She skied with an aggression and precision that left her competitors trailing, ultimately winning the gold medal by a staggering margin of 1.5 seconds.
To put this achievement into perspective, a 1.5-second lead in Olympic slalom is virtually unheard of in modern racing. Her victory marked the largest winning margin in Olympic women’s slalom since Vreni Schneider’s dominant performance of 1.68 seconds in 1988, a testament to an era where equipment and training methodologies were vastly different. Incredibly, Shiffrin’s margin in Cortina nearly equaled the combined winning margins from every Olympic women’s slalom race held between 1998 and 2022. This statistic alone highlights the sheer magnitude of her performance, indicating a level of superiority that transcends generations of elite ski racers.
This gold medal was Shiffrin’s third Olympic gold, solidifying her position as the most decorated American alpine skier in Olympic history, with three golds and four total Olympic medals. Furthermore, at 30 years old, she etched her name into the record books as the oldest American woman ever to win Olympic gold in alpine skiing. This achievement came full circle in a poignant way, as she had also been the youngest Olympic slalom champion 12 years prior, demonstrating an incredible longevity and adaptability at the pinnacle of her sport. Her Cortina triumph was not just another medal; it was a powerful statement of her enduring legacy and ability to deliver under the most intense scrutiny.
A Litany of Records: Expanding the Legacy
Mikaela Shiffrin’s season was a continuous assault on the record books. If there was a benchmark to be chased, she invariably reached and often surpassed it. By the end of the winter, her accomplishments included:
- Most World Cup Wins: Shiffrin’s career total of 110 World Cup victories stands as the undisputed record for any alpine skier, male or female. This monumental achievement surpasses the previous record of 86 held by Ingemar Stenmark, a figure long considered unattainable.
- Most Slalom Wins: Her 73 World Cup slalom victories are unparalleled in the history of the sport, showcasing her absolute mastery of the discipline.
- Most Giant Slalom Wins: With 24 World Cup giant slalom victories, she demonstrates significant versatility beyond her primary discipline.
- Most Discipline Crystal Globes: Her 17 discipline globes (9 Slalom, 6 Overall, 2 Giant Slalom) are a testament to her sustained excellence across multiple events and seasons.
- Most Overall Crystal Globes: Tying Annemarie Moser-Pröll with 6 overall titles solidifies her position among the all-time greats.
- Most Wins in a Single Season: Her 15 World Cup wins in a single season (2018-19) remain an individual record, though this past season’s 9 slalom wins and Olympic gold represent a different kind of concentrated dominance.
One statistic, however, truly encapsulates the breadth of her career: her 73 slalom victories alone would rank fourth on the all-time World Cup wins list, behind only herself (110 total), Ingemar Stenmark (86), and Lindsey Vonn (84). This means that her performance in just one discipline would still place her ahead of legendary racers like Marcel Hirscher, who amassed 67 career victories across multiple events. This unparalleled depth of achievement in a single discipline, coupled with her significant success in others, paints a picture of an athlete operating on a different plane.
Beyond the Numbers: A Sporting Icon
The ESPY nomination for Best Athlete – Women’s Sports acknowledges more than just the raw statistics of a single, remarkable winter. It recognizes a career spanning 16 seasons during which Mikaela Shiffrin has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is considered possible in alpine skiing. Every year brings new milestones, new records, and a powerful reminder that maintaining such a high level of consistency and competitive edge in an inherently dangerous and unpredictable sport is an almost impossible feat. Her resilience in overcoming injuries, navigating the mental pressures of elite competition, and continually adapting her technique to evolving course conditions and equipment standards speaks to a profound dedication and mental toughness.
Her burgeoning résumé now firmly places her in conversations that extend well beyond the confines of ski racing. She is increasingly mentioned alongside global sporting icons whose influence and achievements transcend their individual sports, figures such as Simone Biles, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Muhammad Ali. These athletes are celebrated not just for their wins, but for their ability to redefine their sports, inspire millions, and achieve a level of sustained excellence that sets them apart. Shiffrin’s impact on alpine skiing, particularly in inspiring a new generation of female athletes, is immeasurable. Her grace under pressure, articulate commentary, and humble demeanor, even amidst unprecedented success, have made her a revered figure worldwide. While the records may continue to accumulate as her career progresses, Shiffrin’s legacy is already secure, etched into the annals of sporting history as a true titan.
The Competition: A Field of Champions
The "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports" category is undeniably one of the most fiercely contested at the ESPY Awards, a testament to the incredible talent and achievements across women’s professional sports. Mikaela Shiffrin’s fellow nominees each represent the pinnacle of their respective sports, having delivered equally compelling and dominant performances in the past year.
Hilary Knight (Ice Hockey): A towering figure in women’s ice hockey, Knight has consistently been one of the sport’s most dominant forwards. In the past season, she continued to break records and lead her team, showcasing her unparalleled scoring ability and leadership. As a multi-time Olympic medalist and World Champion, Knight’s consistent performance at the highest level of international hockey, coupled with her ongoing advocacy for women’s hockey, makes her a compelling candidate. Her recent club season saw her continue to be a prolific scorer and a crucial component of her team’s success, reinforcing her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Nelly Korda (Golf): The world’s No. 1 ranked female golfer, Nelly Korda, has enjoyed a sensational period, marked by multiple tournament victories and a major championship title. Her powerful swing, precise short game, and unflappable demeanor have made her a force on the LPGA Tour. Korda’s ability to consistently contend and win against the deepest fields in women’s golf underscores her exceptional talent. Her recent string of victories, including a major title, solidified her as the dominant figure in her sport, attracting significant attention to women’s golf.
A’ja Wilson (WNBA): A two-time WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, A’ja Wilson has cemented her status as one of the most dominant players in basketball. Her past season was characterized by MVP-caliber performances, leading her team to a championship while consistently delivering highlight-reel plays and statistical dominance on both ends of the court. Wilson’s combination of scoring, rebounding, and defensive prowess makes her a generational talent, and her leadership has been instrumental in elevating her team to consistent success in the highly competitive WNBA.
Each of these athletes brings an extraordinary resume of achievement, making the "Best Athlete – Women’s Sports" category a true reflection of global sporting excellence and a difficult choice for voters.
Implications for Alpine Skiing and Women’s Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin’s ESPY nomination carries significant implications beyond personal accolades. For alpine skiing, it represents a crucial moment of mainstream recognition. While the sport has a dedicated following, its media presence outside of major events like the Olympics can be limited. Shiffrin’s consistent excellence and her ability to transcend her sport, as evidenced by this nomination, bring invaluable visibility to alpine skiing, potentially inspiring new fans and participants. Her story highlights the demanding nature, precision, and incredible athleticism required to compete at the elite level, dispelling any misconceptions about the sport’s complexity.
Furthermore, her inclusion in such an elite group of female athletes reinforces the growing prominence and appreciation for women’s sports globally. The ESPY Awards, by spotlighting these incredible women, contribute to the broader narrative of gender equality in sports, showcasing the immense talent, dedication, and competitive spirit present across various disciplines. It encourages greater investment, media coverage, and fan engagement in women’s sports, fostering a more equitable and diverse sporting landscape. Shiffrin, like her fellow nominees, serves as a powerful role model, demonstrating that with hard work and unwavering commitment, women can achieve unparalleled success and become global icons.
Tune In and Vote for Mikaela
Fans eager to support Mikaela Shiffrin in her quest for another major honor are encouraged to participate in the voting process. The full list of nominees across all categories, along with detailed information, can be found on ESPN’s official ESPY Awards website. Voting for the Best Athlete – Women’s Sports category is currently open, and fans have the opportunity to cast their vote once per day, every day, from multiple devices, thereby maximizing their support for Shiffrin. Every single vote plays a crucial role in determining this year’s ESPY winners.
Supporters are strongly encouraged to share the voting link across their personal networks—with family, friends, ski clubs, and through all social media platforms—to rally collective support. U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, is also actively encouraging its partners to disseminate the voting information through their internal company communications, amplifying the call to action and ensuring that Shiffrin receives the recognition her historic season deserves. The 2026 ESPY Awards ceremony will air live on Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, promising an evening of celebration for the world’s most exceptional athletes.
Information Courtesy of a press release by Megan Harrod.
