🏋️♀️ Ski Star Combats Lingering Injury Effects with Next-Level Strength Training
Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated Alpine ski racer in history, continues to dominate headlines not just on the snow, but in the gym. The Team USA star recently offered fans a glimpse into her home gym, posting a video showcasing her TRX core workout routine that immediately affirmed her status as an athlete of incredible power and precision, both on and off the mountain.
The rigorous core session is a key component of her preparation for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic season, and it serves as a powerful rebuttal to any lingering questions regarding her physical recovery.
The Comeback Story: Grit After the Killington Crash
Shiffrin is less than a year removed from a dramatic and scary crash during the Giant Slalom run at the Killington World Cup in November 2024. The incident resulted in a deep puncture wound to her abdomen and severe muscle trauma. While speculation persists regarding the exact cause of the 3-inch puncture—likely from impacting an unsecured object or gate—the injury sidelined the champion for two months.
However, displaying the true grit that defines her career, Shiffrin battled back against the clock and the physical limitations, making a historic return to the World Cup circuit in February to clench a milestone 100th World Cup victory in Italy. This incredible comeback season highlighted her mental fortitude as much as her physical strength.
TRX: The Ultimate Core Stabilizer
The TRX suspension trainer is a centerpiece of Shiffrin’s core regimen, and her advanced movements demonstrate her commitment to functional strength—a critical component of elite ski racing. Unlike static exercises, TRX demands total body engagement and immense stabilization, directly replicating the forces and imbalances experienced when carving turns at high speed.
While Shiffrin’s full dryland training incorporates traditional strength, cardio, and mobility work, the intensity of her reported TRX exercises suggests a specialized focus on the core musculature surrounding her previous injury. Successfully completing such a challenging routine indicates she has successfully “nipped in the bud” any lasting physical limitations from the abdominal trauma.
The constant battle for stability against gravity and the straps requires the obliques and deep core muscles—the very area affected by her crash—to fire continuously. This builds the bulletproof core needed to absorb high impact and maintain the aggressive body position required for winning Super-G and Slalom races.
Olympic Season Readiness: Powering Team USA
The sight of Shiffrin crushing it in her summer training, combining intense gym sessions with on-the-snow work in places like Valle Nevado, Chile, provides major optimism for Team USA fans. Her consistent dedication to fitness is a critical reason she remains the most dominant athlete in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup.
As she prepares to challenge for more medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, her commitment to this high-intensity core work serves as a final, powerful assurance. Mikaela Shiffrin is not just recovered; she is actively upgrading her physical preparation to ensure she is faster, stronger, and ready to face any challenge—be it a rival or a demanding race course—this winter.