American alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin remained upbeat and optimistic after finishing 11th in the women’s giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, February 15, 2026, viewing the result as a step forward despite extending her Olympic medal drought.
The 30-year-old U.S. phenom, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the most decorated skier in World Cup history, started strong in bib No. 3 on the sun-drenched Tofane course. She posted the seventh-fastest first run in 1:04.25, trailing leader Federica Brignone of Italy by 1.02 seconds. However, Shiffrin dropped four spots in her second run (1:10.17), finishing with a combined time of 2:14.42—0.92 seconds behind Brignone’s winning mark and just 0.30 seconds off the shared silver medalists, Sara Hector of Sweden and Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway.
Italy’s Federica Brignone dominated the event, securing her second gold medal of the Games (following her super-G triumph) in a commanding performance that thrilled the home crowd. The 35-year-old veteran, who has staged a remarkable comeback from injury, finished 0.62 seconds ahead of the silver medalists.
Shiffrin, who has openly discussed mental challenges including PTSD following a severe crash in late 2024, insisted she attacked both runs aggressively and was pleased with her execution. Speaking post-race, she described the result as “better than expected,” highlighting the tight margins and her improving form compared to recent struggles. “I went as hard as I could,” she said, emphasizing progress since her first giant slalom podium in two years just weeks earlier.
The finish marks another chapter in Shiffrin’s challenging Olympic campaign. After a disappointing 15th in the team combined earlier, she has yet to medal in Milano Cortina, continuing a streak of eight consecutive Olympic events without hardware since her triumphs in 2014 and 2018. Yet, the narrow gap to the podium—far tighter than in previous disappointing outings—has fueled optimism among her supporters and coaches.
Shiffrin’s coach, Karin Harjo, made history by becoming the first woman to set an Olympic Alpine course, designing the second run of the giant slalom.
With one event remaining—the slalom on Wednesday, February 18—Shiffrin enters as the overwhelming favorite. She has dominated the discipline this season, winning seven of eight World Cup slaloms, and remains determined to end her medal wait on the iconic Italian slopes.
As the Games progress, Shiffrin’s resilience and positive mindset continue to inspire, even amid setbacks. Fans worldwide will watch closely as she seeks to reclaim Olympic glory in her signature event.
