Mikaela Shiffrin secured a Best Athlete nomination at the ESPY Awards on 5 July 2026, marking a rare crossover of alpine skiing success into mainstream U.S. sports honors.
What sparked the nomination?
The ESPY committee highlighted Shiffrin’s record‑breaking 2025‑26 World Cup season, where she captured 12 victories and topped the overall standings for the seventh time. Her consistency across slalom, giant slalom and super‑G events impressed voters who look for athletes that dominate their discipline year after year.
How does this compare to past ESPY nominees?
Winter sport athletes rarely break into the Best Athlete category, which is usually dominated by football, basketball and baseball stars. The last skier to receive a similar nod was Lindsey Vonn in 2019, and she didn’t win. Shiffrin’s inclusion signals a shift toward recognizing individual excellence in niche sports, especially as streaming brings ski races to a broader audience.
Why does this matter for her career?
Beyond the trophy cabinet, the nomination raises Shiffrin’s marketability. Sponsors such as Red Bull and Rossignol have already teased new campaign launches tied to the ESPY buzz. A higher profile can translate into better endorsement deals, which are crucial as she approaches the latter half of her career.
What’s next for Shiffrin after the ESPYs?
The ESPY ceremony is scheduled for 13 July 2026 in Los Angeles. Whether she walks away with the award or not, Shiffrin will return to the World Cup circuit in early November for the opening slalom in Lech Zürs, Austria. She’s expected to defend her lead in the slalom standings, a race she’s won five times consecutively.
How will fans react?
Social media lit up after the nomination, with the hashtag #ShiffrinESPY trending on Twitter. Fans praised her for breaking barriers for winter athletes, while some critics argued that the category should stay within “team‑sport” icons. Regardless, the conversation keeps Shiffrin in the spotlight during the off‑season.
What does the nomination say about the sport’s growth?
Alpine skiing’s viewership has climbed 18% over the past two years, according to Nielsen data released in March 2026. Shiffrin’s high‑profile status is a key driver, drawing casual viewers to technical events that were once niche. The ESPY nod could encourage broadcasters to allocate more prime‑time slots to ski races.
And as the awards night approaches, all eyes will be on whether Shiffrin can convert the nomination into a win, adding a prestigious ESPY trophy to her already impressive haul of World Cup titles and Olympic medals.