Mikaela Shiffrin does it again—capturing hearts and minds with her honest, raw recount of her struggles with PTSD following her crash at Killington, Vermont, in November 2024. Published in The Players Tribune, her personal essay about her feelings and struggles offers a rare, unfiltered insight into the pressures and expectations weighing on an elite athlete’s shoulders, and the silent battle of overcoming trauma.
The Players’ Tribune is a digital media platform founded in 2014 by former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter, designed to give professional athletes a direct voice to share their personal stories, experiences, and perspectives without traditional media filters. The platform publishes first-person essays, video content, and podcasts, often highlighting emotional, behind-the-scenes narratives that go beyond the box scores—covering everything from triumphs and injuries to mental health and social justice. By prioritizing authenticity and storytelling, The Players’ Tribune has become a trusted space where athletes from around the world can connect with fans on a human level, reshaping how sports journalism intersects with personal narrative.
“It was like: “There’s no fecal matter coming through the hole. That’s a good sign.” Oh, goodie!”
— Mikaela Shiffrin, “My Battle with PTSD,” The Players’ Tribune
Written in Shiffrin’s signature self-deprecating voice, the piece balances dark humor and deep introspection. She tries to deflect attention before diving into her innermost thoughts: “It was almost as though I was no longer in control of my body,” the 30-year-old confesses. “It was so frustrating. But also like … so dark.”
“Come on, Mikaela, people have had way worse crashes than that, way worse injuries. Those people got through it. What is wrong with you?”
— Mikaela Shiffrin, “My Battle with PTSD,” The Players’ Tribune
While it’s easy to admire Shiffrin’s athletic accomplishments, her unflinching recount of her journey through the fog of PTSD makes her human and vulnerable and moves her from the pedastal she gets put on straight into the reader’s heart. Read Shiffrin’s full essay exclusively on The Players Tribune.
