In a blaze of redemption and raw emotion, American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin clinched gold in the women’s slalom at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, shattering an eight-year medal drought and etching her name deeper into history.
The 30-year-old phenom dominated the final Alpine event with a combined time of 1:39.10, outpacing Switzerland’s Camille Rast by a staggering 1.50 seconds – the largest margin in Olympic Alpine skiing since 1998. This victory marks her third Olympic gold, making her the most decorated American Alpine skier ever, and the only winter Olympian to win the same event 12 years apart.
Shiffrin’s triumph was laced with tears and reflection, as she opened up about the weight of expectations, the grief following her father’s death in 2020, and the sheer joy of reclaiming her throne in her favorite event. “This feels different,” Shiffrin told CBS News after the race. “It’s like finding peace on the mountain again.” Competing in her fourth Olympics, she bent her knees in quiet celebration at the finish line, a silent nod to her resilience after disappointing starts in other events and a medal-less Beijing 2022. As the U.S. national anthem played during the medal ceremony, emotions overflowed – a moment captured in viral footage that has fans worldwide cheering her “road to redemption.”
But Shiffrin’s story hits even closer to home for New Englanders. In honor of her golden feat, The B Berkshires magazine is revisiting its Winter 2023 cover story, a poignant feature spotlighting the champion and her mother, Eileen Shiffrin. Eileen, a Lanesborough native who honed her skiing skills on local Berkshires terrain, has been Mikaela’s rock through triumphs and trials.112dff The cover, photographed exclusively at Camp Arrow Wood in Pittsfield, MA, captures the duo’s unbreakable bond and reflects on family roots, perseverance, and life in the Berkshires.
Mikaela Shiffrin: The B Magazine – Issuu
“From the Berkshires to the world stage, again and again,” the magazine posted on Instagram, celebrating Shiffrin’s journey from her mother’s hometown slopes to Olympic stardom. At 28 during the original feature, Shiffrin was already hailed as the greatest ski racer ever, having shattered Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup win record. Now, with this latest gold, the revisit underscores her evolution – from prodigy to legend, all while honoring her late grandmother Polly Condron, a devoted fan from Lanesborough.
Shiffrin’s win contributed to Team USA’s record-breaking haul of 33 medals at the 2026 Games, including 12 golds – the most ever for the U.S. in a Winter Olympics. Congratulatory messages poured in, from former President Barack Obama praising her alongside other stars like Alysa Liu and Breezy Johnson, to President Trump hailing the team’s historic success.
As Shiffrin basks in her “golden peace, this Berkshires tribute reminds us: true champions are forged not just on global podiums, but in the quiet strength of family and roots. Here’s to more slopes conquered – and covers revisited.
