4 U.S. Ski Stars Named TIME's Most Influential Athletes

When TIME Magazine released its inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in sports, four names from U.S. Ski & Snowboard stood among global icons like LeBron James and Lionel Messi.

Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, Jessie Diggins, and Oksana Masters didn't just make the list. They represent decades of barrier-breaking achievements that transformed their sports forever.

Shiffrin is the winningest alpine skier in history with 110 World Cup victories and four Olympic medals, including her latest gold from Milano Cortina 2026. She won that slalom race by 1.5 seconds, the largest margin in any alpine race since 1998.

"Even after all these years, there's still a part of me that wonders, 'Is this real?'" Shiffrin wrote after the announcement.

Vonn's inclusion celebrates one of sports' most remarkable comebacks. At 41, she returned from retirement, racked up eight podiums, and led the World Cup downhill standings heading into her fifth Olympics.

Though a crash nine days before the Olympic downhill tore her ACL and another crash ended her race, her story proved that showing up matters as much as any medal. "Chasing a dream that so many thought was impossible has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," Vonn shared.

Diggins retired this year as the most decorated cross country skier in American history. Her four Olympic medals include the sport's first-ever U.S. gold, won with teammate Kikkan Randall in 2018.

Beyond her 30 World Cup wins, Diggins normalized conversations about mental health in elite sports and showed there's always more to race for than results.

Why This Inspires

Masters holds the title of most decorated Paralympic athlete ever with 24 medals across four sports in both Summer and Winter Games. Born in Ukraine with birth defects likely caused by Chornobyl radiation, she had both legs amputated at 14.

Adopted at seven and brought to America, she found her power through sport. In Beijing 2022, she became the first American to win seven medals in a single Paralympic Games.

"To be mentioned among them is something I never could have imagined," Masters said.

These four athletes didn't just win races. They showed millions what determination, resilience, and heart can achieve when you refuse to accept limits.