Gold Medal Skier Opens Up About Father's Death
VAUSE: Well, five-time gold medalist, American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin, 2020 has been an awful year so far. Her father died in an accident at his home in early February. Then, the ski season ended abruptly, due to the pandemic. Now, Shiffrin has opened up exclusively to CNN's Christina MacFarlane, and she reflects on how these life-changing events and how she's now found solace in singing.</s>MIKAELA SHIFFRIN, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: I used to think, I'm pretty good at keeping perspective on what's important. But I think that's changed now, and hopefully I'm just never going to take anything for granted ever again.</s>GRAPHIC: In February 2020, Mikaela Shiffrin's father died from an accident at home in Colorado.</s>SHIFFRIN: Not just me and me and my mom, my brother, none of us have had a chance to even process anything. I think about the last moments when I saw him, which is not, you know, he didn't look like himself. But I don't know. I could still feel him. You know, so I see that a lot. We had moments where we were really sad, and then moments where, like the garage door closes, like, someone goes out to the garage and grabs something. And it's like, Oh, Dad's home from work. My dad spent a lot of time at this house, and we feel closer to him here. And we have pictures of him up all over the house. That's like the photography picture.</s>CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS: I remember him standing in the finish area, when you're racing, standing among all the press with his camera, just like the rest of us.</s>SHIFFRIN: I think the image you have, you know, he's in the finish area. Like, that was him. He loved, loved photography. He loved capturing moments and making those -- keeping those memories forever.</s>MACFARLANE: I suppose moving forward, given how important he's been to your ski career, eventually, when you're ready, you'll want to continue skiing for him. Is that something that you think about?</s>SHIFFRIN: Yes. I mean, my motivation in a lot of ways is sort of increasing, in a sense, because you know, I'm waiting for Solda (ph) next year, for the first race of the season, to say, here we go. Like, this is where I want to be. This is where my dad wanted me to be. I found being on the mountain was like being close to him, be closer to him, without being so close that it hurt.</s>MACFARLANE: So tell me how have you been working out and keeping in shape at home.</s>SHIFFRIN: Do you want me to show you?</s>MACFARLANE: Yes, I do.</s>SHIFFRIN: OK. This is the gym. Honestly, I've been doing a lot of body weight stuff, a lot of core. I've been using the bike trainer pretty much every day. I feel like dancing is a really good, a great way to exercise, and also express yourself, and it's just -- it's good for your soul.</s>MACFARLANE: Do you have your medal medals on display at home anywhere? Or are they under the bed?</s>SHIFFRIN: They're not under the bed, but they are not on display. But I could -- I could pop them out for you, if you like.</s>MACFARLANE: Oh, I see the crystal globe.</s>SHIFFRIN: That's one of the overall globes.</s>MACFARLANE: Wow.</s>SHIFFRIN: These are World champs. The gold from China (ph).</s>MACFARLANE: Very cool.</s>SHIFFRIN: I dropped it, so it has a couple chips right here. I'm showing you the guitar,</s>MACFARLANE: Is there something you've been working on at the moment?</s>SHIFFRIN: I have -- I've been wanting to learn "Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd. It's one of my favorite songs right now.</s>MACFARLANE: Thank you. That was so lovely. I hope the Weeknd is watching and paying attention.</s>SHIFFRIN: No. I hope he's not.</s>VAUSE: If nothing else, the pandemic and global shutdown, has dramatically reduced air pollution over Europe. Take a look at Italy. On the left, nitrogen dioxide concentrations in March last year. Compare that to the image on the right, which was taken last month. Paris has the most significant improvement in air quality, nitrogen dioxide levels down 54 percent. Again, March last year is on the left and this year, it's on the right. In Spain, Madrid saw decreases of around 45 percent. The British prime minister says a retired war veteran will get recognition for an extraordinary effort at fundraising. Captain Tom Moore, 99 years old, has raised more than $22 million. This is unbelievable, this story. Look at this. This is how he did it. Anna Stewart has the details.</s>ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Many small steps for this 99-year-old man, a giant leap for the NHS. A whole nation, rooted for British army veteran Tom Moore to complete a personal marathon, 100 laps of his garden, before his 100th birthday, raising money for the country's health service. He crossed the finish line with a guard of honor from his old regiment. Moore set out to raise 1000 pounds, but ended up raising over 12 million.</s>TOM MOORE, BRITISH ARMY VETERAN: I think it's an absolute fantastic sum of money. It's unbelievable that people would be so kind.</s>STEWART: The money goes to the organization NHS Charities Together, which supports the U.K.'s health workers, who are already sending messages of thanks.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We think you're amazing!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yay!</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yay!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yay!</s>STEWART: It's inspired people across the country and abroad, and stunned his family.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's been on TV in France. We're going to Russia, Israel, America, Australia. Change has been incredible.</s>STEWART: He has a message for all the people staying at home,</s>MOORE: I think you're also being brave, having to be hemmed up in such a small space for so long. Good for you.</s>STEWART: The public want to think Moore in return.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why we made a card for Tom.</s>STEWART: He turns 100 years old on the 30th of April.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Happy birthday to Captain Tom.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tag "Make a card for Tom."</s>STEWART: People all over the world are going to make it a birthday to remember. Anna Stewart, CNN, London.</s>VAUSE: A small correct. Not that it matters, but it's actually $15 million U.S. dollars, but it's still an incredible effort. Good on you, Tom. You've been watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. Stay tuned for a CNN global town hall, "FACTS AND FEARS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS." That's just ahead.