The winningest alpine skier ever has one more shot at an Olympic medal at the Milano Cortina Games. It’s her crazy back muscles, though, we are talking about.
Mikaela Shiffrin has one more shot at an Olympic medal at the Milano Cortina Games on Wednesday, February 18, in the Women’s Slalom as she hopes to breakat the Winter Games. Beforehand, we are still talking about her viral “back abs” she posted that an expert explained how it’s possible.
The 30-year-old Shiffrin is the winningest skier off all time with 108 World Cup victories, and has won gold in the 2014 Sochi Games in the Slalom, followed by another gold in the 2018 PyeongChang Games in the Giant Slalom. Feb 15, 2026; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States reacts after the second run of the women's alpine skiing giant slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. | Michael Madrid-Imagn Images So far, these Olympics have not been kind to Shiffrin as she finished 11th in the Giant Slalom, and 4th in the Team Alpine Combined event with Breezy Johnson.She did turn heads, though, with her ab-flexing fit from the Olympic Village earlier in the Games .post with her crazy “back abs” that had everyone talking, though, where she has crazy muscles on her back that even form a back six-pack. ”I wish I had more of them in my front, honestly. I didn’t know that that’s what my back looks like. I don’t know how you get that. I don’t really want it. But, you know, I showed my mom and she’s like ‘Ew, gross. It looks like an alien.’ Thanks, mom.”“In the case of athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin, back abs are formed through rigorous training that combines strength training, sport-specific movements, and a low body fat percentage,” he explained. “A sport like alpine skiing requires strong posterior engagement and constant core engagement.” The moves Shiffrin has to make on the mountain definitely require a strong back. | Michael Madrid-Imagn Images“Achieving back abs can be more challenging for the average person compared to developing front abs,” He says. One big factor: visibility depends largely on overall body fat percentage. Lower body fat allows muscle definition to show more clearly, but that level isn’t always attainable, healthy or sustainable for everyone.” Family history and time are also big factors: “A strong, defined back is often the result of years of consistent strength training. Genetics also influence where you store fat and how easily muscle definition shows up.”Nov 30, 2025; Copper, Colorado, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates after winning the women's slalom alpine skiing race at the Stifel Copper Cup at Copper Mountain. | Michael Madrid-Imagn ImagesMatt Ryan is a dedicated sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in digital and linear media. After receiving a Masters in Journalism from USC, he’s worked for Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports Media Group, and Bally Sports, while holding various leadership roles along the way.
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