Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, 30, says she worked with a psychologist to 'desensitize' herself to the Olympics

"Mikaela Shiffrin, 30, may be a three-time Olympic gold medalist, but there was a time when just hearing the name of the Games felt overwhelming. On Friday's episode of " Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce," Shiffrin said getting ready for one of the biggest competitions in sports took years of work, much of it away from cameras and crowds."

""My Olympic experiences have been so wildly different. Now it's four, and I'm really aware, right now, of all of the work that's gone into - actually, not the medal - but the work that's gone into showing up on race day, and being able to show up with the mentality and the skiing that I wanted to do," Shiffrin told podcast host Kylie Kelce."

Mikaela Shiffrin worked with a psychologist to desensitize herself to the Olympics by imagining the vibe, colors, and conversations about feelings surrounding the Games. She visited Paris two summers ago to get a feel for the Olympic atmosphere and reduce overwhelm. She focused years of preparation on showing up on race day with the desired mentality and skiing rather than on medals. She structured daily life to stay physically and mentally ready, including abstaining from alcohol for two years to avoid illness. She emphasized long-term work and routine behind peak performance at the Games.

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