U.S. Alpine Veteran Jackie Wiles on Naming Fear and Moving Forward

There’s a moment in every start gate where fear, whether you admit it or not, is racing through your veins.

For Jacqueline Wiles, a veteran of four Olympic cycles and a cornerstone of the U.S. Women’s Alpine team, that moment isn’t something to eliminate. It’s something to understand. And that shift has reshaped her career, her comeback, and her joy in the sport.

As part of Back The Team’s Kickstarting 2026 with Confidence series, Wiles opened up about sisterhood, injury, perspective, and what it actually takes to move forward stronger.

On The Road with the U.S. Ski Team

Ask Wiles what she loves most about ski racing and she doesn’t talk about podiums. She talks about the team.

“What I love most about ski racing is the adventure that it has given me. I feel like I’ve been super fortunate to travel the world skiing with my best friends, and I’ve been able to make that a career for so long. I love the perspective it’s given me, and the feeling that I get creating speed every time I really push into a turn.”

For her, alpine skiing isn’t just an individual pursuit. It’s a shared journey. She’s the first to say that the Women’s Alpine team is a group that understands that individual success is built on collective energy.

“Ski racing creates a sisterhood. We’re all in it together as a team. You do compete individually, but we really are working together on the hill, and we go through a lot together. We’re on the road more with each other than we are with our families. We realize if we’re going to succeed individually, we have to thrive as a team really well. Being good friends is a huge part of that.”

That environment is intentional. Veterans and rookies push side by side.

“When you’re in an environment where people are willing to build the group up together, it allows athletes to really grow. We inspire each other. When one person has success, everyone sees it and thinks, ‘If they’re doing that, I can do it too.’”

Momentum becomes shared. When one athlete breaks through, it becomes proof for everyone else. Confidence becomes contagious.

Overcoming Adversity Through Injury

Wiles’ perspective was forged during one of the hardest stretches of her life. In 2018, a devastating knee injury sidelined her for 18 months. There were times she wanted to quit. Moments where progress was invisible. Days filled with small, repetitive work that no one ever sees.

“It’s when no one’s watching — all the hard days and nights where you don’t see a lot of progress — but you do everything you can because you have this belief that you’re going to get back. I really feel like it’s in those moments you learn so much about yourself.”

She doesn’t romanticize injury. But she doesn’t resent it either.

“I wouldn’t trade anything for the world, because it’s given me the perspective now of going out there with pure gratitude and joy for what I’m doing. Things can change in an instant. Those lows make you appreciate the sport for what it is.”

Embracing Fear

For years after her crash, Wiles didn’t realize she was carrying trauma. She believed fear was something elite athletes were supposed to be able to outrun.

“After my injury, I didn’t even realize subconsciously that I was terrified. I think I was trying to lie to myself that I wasn’t. You could see it in my skiing…I was holding myself back and not fully committing. I wasn’t trusting myself to go fast.”

Eventually, she was diagnosed with PTSD from the crash. This was a moment that reframed everything.

“It was super empowering to look at fear in a positive way and not in a debilitating way. Acknowledging the fear was huge. Knowing it’s there for a reason. Fear is a good thing…it’s there to keep me safe. But I learned I don’t need to let it control me.”

Her relationship with fear became collaborative instead of combative.

“Now I really prepare ahead of time, whether it be visualizing, inspecting the course, really just being as ready as possible. That way, every time I get in a start gate, the fear is still there. But it no longer controls me. I use it in a positive way.”

Fear didn’t disappear. It found its place.

Passing On A Simple Reminder: Believe

When asked what she’d tell others chasing big dreams, Jackie didn’t hesitate.

“Believe in yourself. We’re constantly bombarded with negativity. It’s so easy to let one bad day or one bad comment get in your mind. But if you fully believe in yourself, there’s literally nothing you can’t do. Having that belief is so important. A lot of confidence comes from that.”

Stories like Jackie’s are exactly what Back The Team is built to share. We’re going behind-the-scenes of the Winter Games through real conversations about mindset, pressure, and performance from the world’s best athletes. Live from Milan as the action unfolds. Follow along!