Iga Swiatek reveals voice note she sent Mikaela Shiffrin after landing gold at Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games - 'She taught me a lot'
Published 19/02/2026 at 23:30 GMT
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Iga Swiatek has been loving the Olympic Winter Games at Milano Cortina 2026, especially the "trendy" curling. One of her favourite sports, however, is Alpine skiing, where she thinks highly of Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. The current Wimbledon champion has been speaking about the legendary duo, while revealing what she told Shiffrin after the American claimed slalom gold.
Shiffrin showed 'different energy' to seal slalom gold after Beijing heartbreak
Video credit: TNT Sports
The tennis season may be in full swing but that has not stopped Iga Swiatek from getting her Olympic fix at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
The six-time Grand Slam champion is no stranger to some of winter sports' biggest stars.
She has been keeping tabs on the "incredible story" of Mikaela Shiffrin ending her wait for a gold medal, while following Lindsey Vonn's "admirable" comeback.
Although the world No. 2 tennis player admitted that she might not "fully understand everything" at the Winter Games, she can definitely resonate with the athletes and "understand the emotions".
"I’m a couch fan," Swiatek said. "These [are] actually the Olympics I watch the most. Obviously, during the Summer Games, I take part in them myself, so I don’t have the time.
"I ended up watching a lot - mostly figure skating, speed skating and short track. Of course also Alpine skiing. And a bit of curling, which has suddenly become trendy, and it’s definitely fun to watch."
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Relive the best of the commentary as Shiffrin soars to slalom gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Swiatek, who won the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, claimed that a lot of what she has learned about sport has come from Shiffrin.
The 30-year-old Alpine skier - considered the greatest of all time - ended a 12-year wait for a third Olympic gold medal, as she reigned supreme in the women's slalom.
And Swiatek revealed that she sent the three-time Olympic champion a voice note after her race.
"It’s an incredible story, even more emotional because the previous Olympics didn’t go the way she wanted," Swiatek said. "Even though theoretically she has nothing to prove, we all feel external expectations and feel we need to prove something.
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"And she did it again, in such style, with huge confidence. It’s amazing. I sent her a voice message on WhatsApp, telling her how inspiring it was. Especially because we’re somewhat similar in how we function in sport and how we approach pressure. She’s had many ups and downs.
"Watching her taught me how to deal with that, how to focus on the process, on what she often says in interviews - that her goal is to feel her skis as best as possible. We once talked about it, and it helped me apply the same attitude to tennis - to focus on feeling the ball well, on enjoying the moment when the ball goes exactly where I want.
"Mikaela taught me a lot and I’m happy she won another dream gold medal at these Olympics."
Swiatek 'full of admiration' for Vonn
"It was thanks to Lindsey that I started watching Alpine skiing," Swiatek said, and she probably isn't the only one.
Lindsey Vonn mounted a remarkable comeback following her retirement in 2019, as she returned to the circuit a year before the Games with the intention of competing for a second gold medal.
In the build-up to the Games, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament but that did not stop her from taking to the slopes just nine days later.
Unfortunately, it ended badly for her as she sustained a complex leg break early in her downhill run.
"I’m happy she came back and wanted to finish this last season on her own terms," Swiatek continued.
"Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way she had dreamed of. But I think her attitude and the decision to compete despite an injury are admirable.
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Watch: Vonn suffers big crash to end downhill hopes
Video credit: TNT Sports
"There was a lot of discussion around it but everyone must remember that in such situations, a whole team makes the decision. Lindsey is incredibly experienced and knew what she was doing.
"The way she skied during training was amazing. Since I play a sport where nothing dangerous really happens, I admit it’s hard to relate - which makes me respect her even more.
"I’m full of admiration and I hope she recovers soon and reaches a level of fitness that is comfortable for her."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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