4 US Ski Stars Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential

Four champions who've dominated the slopes for decades just received one of sports' highest honors.

TIME announced its inaugural list of the 100 most influential figures in global sports, and four athletes from U.S. Ski & Snowboard made the cut. Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, Jessie Diggins, and Oksana Masters earned their spots alongside legends like Lionel Messi, LeBron James, and Shohei Ohtani.

Shiffrin, already named to TIME's 2023 Most Influential People list, cemented her legacy at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. She captured Olympic gold in slalom by 1.5 seconds, the largest margin in any alpine slalom race since 1998. With four Olympic medals, 110 World Cup wins, and 18 Crystal Globes, she's officially the greatest alpine skier of all time.

"Recognition like this always feels a little surreal," Shiffrin shared on Instagram. "Even after all these years, there's still a part of me that wonders, 'Is this real?'"

Vonn's inclusion celebrates one of sports' most remarkable comebacks. At 41, she returned from retirement to compete in her fifth Olympics, earning eight podiums and leading the World Cup downhill standings. Though a crash nine days before the Olympic downhill left her with a torn ACL, she still showed up to race.

"Returning to the top of my sport and chasing a dream that so many thought was impossible has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," Vonn said.

Diggins retired this season as the most decorated cross country skier in American history. Her four Olympic medals include the sport's first gold for Team USA, won with teammate Kikkan Randall in 2018. Beyond her 30 World Cup wins, she normalized conversations about mental health in elite sports.

Masters stands as the most decorated Paralympic athlete ever with 24 medals across four different sports. Born in Ukraine with birth defects suspected from Chornobyl radiation, both her legs were amputated at 14. After her adoption at seven, she moved to the U.S. and began a journey that would inspire the world.

Why This Inspires

These four women didn't just win races. They expanded what people believed possible in their sports and showed that setbacks don't define you. Vonn raced with a torn ACL because the dream mattered more than the result. Masters competed in four different sports across summer and winter Paralympics. Diggins talked openly about mental health when few athletes would. Shiffrin kept breaking records that seemed unbreakable.

Their influence reaches far beyond medal counts. They've inspired young athletes, changed conversations about perseverance and mental health, and proved that showing up matters as much as winning.

TIME will celebrate all 100 honorees at the first-ever TIME100 Sports Gala on July 16 in New York City.