The U.S. Ski Team is firing on all cylinders ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with American stars delivering standout performances across disciplines. On January 12, 2026, in the night slalom World Cup event in Flachau, Austria, Mikaela Shiffrin claimed victory while teammate Paula Moltzan secured second place, giving the U.S. a commanding 1-2 finish.
Shiffrin, the dominant force in slalom, posted a combined two-run time of 1:50.52 to extend her remarkable record. Moltzan followed closely at 1:50.93, just 0.41 seconds behind, with Austria’s Katharina Truppe rounding out the podium in third. The result marked Shiffrin’s latest triumph in a season where she’s been nearly unbeatable in the technical event, while Moltzan continues her strong push toward Olympic contention.
Here are powerful images from the Flachau podium celebration, showcasing Shiffrin and Moltzan in their moment of glory:
Lindsey Vonn, the legendary 41-year-old speed specialist in the midst of an inspiring comeback, was quick to celebrate her national teammates. Fresh off her own milestone — her 84th career World Cup victory in the downhill at Zauchensee on January 10 — Vonn shared her support via Instagram, posting a photo of Shiffrin and Moltzan with the caption: “Congrats ladies!! 🇺🇸 1-2!! @mikaelashiffrin @paulamoltzan 💪.”
This heartfelt shoutout highlights the strong camaraderie within the U.S. women’s Alpine squad as they prepare for the Olympics, where all three athletes are expected to represent Team USA.
Here are shots of Vonn beaming during a recent press conference at The Osprey, capturing her infectious energy:
Lindsey Vonn Reacts As Mikaela Shiffrin and Paula Moltzan Go 1–2 …
And glimpses of Vonn’s triumphant Zauchensee downhill win, where she clocked 1:06.24 on a shortened, snowy course to edge out Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie by 0.37 seconds:
Vonn reflected on her Zauchensee performance, admitting she started from a challenging sixth position with no clear track due to heavy snow. “I honestly thought with my start number that I had no chance… I had to risk a lot with my line to really stay in the hunt,” she told reporters. “I executed my plan really well… I just swung really hard.”
With the Olympics less than a month away (February 6–22, 2026), Vonn — a three-time Olympic medalist (gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at Vancouver 2010, plus downhill bronze in PyeongChang 2018) — heads into her fifth and final Games determined to end on a high. Her next test comes soon on the iconic Cortina d’Ampezzo slopes during the World Cup downhill on January 17-18, the very venue that will host the Olympic downhill.
As the U.S. women continue to shine — from Vonn’s speed dominance to Shiffrin and Moltzan’s technical prowess — expectations are soaring for multiple medals in Milan-Cortina. The team spirit and individual excellence on display are setting the stage for what could be one of the most memorable Olympic campaigns in American Alpine skiing history.
