American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin added a special pop-culture twist to her Winter Olympics triumph after winning the gold medal in slalom, earning heartfelt praise from global superstar Taylor Swift on social media.
Shiffrin, 30, marked her historic victory by sharing a celebratory post on Instagram, pairing a photo from her race with lyrics from Swift’s latest track Ruin the Friendship, featured on the album The Life of a Showgirl.
“My advice is always ruin the friendship,” Shiffrin wrote in the caption on Thursday, February 19, embracing her longtime identity as a devoted Swiftie.
The post quickly caught the attention of Swift, who commented, “HISTORIC 🥇,” congratulating the skier on her remarkable Olympic achievement. The interaction delighted fans of both stars, highlighting Shiffrin’s well-known admiration for the 36-year-old pop icon.
Shiffrin has frequently spoken about how Swift’s music inspires her journey in professional sports. She previously attended Swift’s The Eras Tour in Denver, singing along with her U.S. Ski teammates from a private suite.
In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, Shiffrin said she has spent years studying Swift’s rise to fame, drawing motivation from her perseverance and storytelling.
The Olympic gold and Swift’s public praise together made the victory even sweeter for Shiffrin, blending elite athletic success with a memorable moment of pop-star recognition.