"Mikaela Shiffrin triumphantly claims record-breaking 100th World Cup victory after recovering from severe crash"
Mikaela Shiffrin Breaks World Cup Win Record and Sets Sights on Accessibility
Mikaela Shiffrin, the Colorado skier, made history on Sunday as she claimed her 100th World Cup race victory at Sestriere, Italy. This achievement marks Shiffrin as the first skier in history to achieve this milestone, breaking the record set by Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark in 1986.
Shiffrin's success extends beyond her personal achievements, as her understanding of the potential impact of her success sets her apart. Constance Beverley, CEO of Share Winter Foundation, believes that Shiffrin's goal to reset what's possible for everyone in skiing is a key factor in her greatness. Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, described Shiffrin as "one of a kind."
The conversation surrounding Shiffrin's 100th World Cup victory offers an opportunity to draw more attention to the sport. In addition to her remarkable skiing abilities, Shiffrin is also known for her philanthropic efforts. She has been actively involved in philanthropy focused on athlete mental-health support, youth access to skiing/snowboarding, and climate advocacy.
One of Shiffrin's most notable initiatives is the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, which she launched in partnership with her family and US Ski & Snowboard. The fund has raised over $3.7 million to date and is intended to help cover expenses for athletes outside of team funding, allowing them to focus on their sport rather than financial burdens.
Shiffrin also serves as an ambassador for Share Winter Foundation and launched the “MIK100” campaign in celebration of her 100th World Cup victory with a goal to raise $100,000 for learn-to-ski and snowboard programs for youth. The campaign, along with other efforts, has raised nearly $500,000 for Share Winter to expand access.
By fundraising specifically for “learn-to-ski and snowboard” programs through Share Winter, Shiffrin’s work directly targets access barriers (cost, equipment, instruction) that disproportionately limit participation among lower-income and underrepresented youth, thereby supporting broader diversity in winter sports participation.
The Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund also addresses financial insecurity for athletes who lack full team support, which can help retain athletes from less-funded backgrounds in competitive pathways. Her high profile (Time’s 100 Most Influential, extensive World Cup success) increases media attention and corporate matching support for these programs—examples include Ikon Pass matching donations tied to her milestone—amplifying fundraising and program reach.
While the documented impact of Shiffrin's philanthropic efforts on diversity and access in winter sports is not quantified, it is reasonable to infer that increasing funding and publicity for learn-to-ski initiatives lowers participation barriers and therefore likely increases diversity and retention in winter sports.
For more detailed impact data, one can check Share Winter Foundation annual reports or impact statements, US Ski & Snowboard program reports, or independent evaluations from organizations that study sport participation and equity.
References: [1] Share Winter Foundation, "Mikaela Shiffrin and Share Winter Foundation Launch MIK100 Campaign to Expand Access to Learn-to-Ski and Snowboard Programs for Youth," 13 February 2023, link. [4] Ikon Pass, "Ikon Pass Celebrates Mikaela Shiffrin's 100th World Cup Win with $100,000 Donation to Share Winter Foundation," 13 February 2023, link.
Sports continue to benefit from Mikaela Shiffrin's influence, as her philanthropic initiatives aim to increase accessibility in winter sports, particularly for underrepresented and lower-income youth. Her fundraising efforts, such as the MIK100 campaign, help lower participation barriers through learn-to-ski and snowboard programs.
