While American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin narrowly missed the podium with an 11th-place finish in the women’s giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the spotlight shifted to her coach, Karin Harjo, who achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first woman to set a course for an Olympic alpine ski race.
Harjo, who has been Shiffrin’s personal head coach since 2023, designed the demanding second run on the Tofane course. Team USA proudly announced the historic moment, highlighting Harjo’s barrier-breaking career. She previously became the first woman to set a World Cup slalom course in 2016 and the first for a World Cup giant slalom in 2025.
Harjo graciously redirected praise to Shiffrin, crediting her influence for opening doors in the sport. “This is for your daughter’s daughters,” Harjo said. “We’re in 2026 and it’s the first time, but the reason is because of Mikaela. She set out to lift up women in sport—competitors, coaches, workers. Through her greatness, she’s providing the opportunity for women to rise and pave a path for everybody behind us.”
Shiffrin, the most decorated alpine skier in history, started strong with the seventh-fastest time in the first run but dropped four positions in the second, finishing 0.92 seconds behind gold medalist Federica Brignone of Italy. Sweden’s Sara Hector and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund shared silver, with Shiffrin just 0.3 seconds off the podium in a fiercely competitive field.
Despite the result—extending her Olympic individual medal drought since 2018—Shiffrin stayed upbeat. “I think today was a really great practice for a strong, flexible mentality, which is what I want to feel in the coming days as well,” she said post-race. She described the event as one of the strongest giant slalom displays in recent years and expressed pride in staying competitive after overcoming past challenges, including a serious injury in 2024.
The 30-year-old Shiffrin views the performance as progress, especially after crashing out early in the discipline at the 2022 Beijing Games. With her dominant slalom season—including clinching the crystal globe—she remains a top contender for Wednesday’s slalom event, where many see her best shot at Olympic glory in Italy.
Teammates Paula Moltzan placed 15th and Nina O’Brien 20th, with Shiffrin leading the U.S. effort.
Harjo’s achievement underscores broader progress in women’s alpine skiing, fueled in part by Shiffrin’s advocacy and excellence. As the Games continue, this milestone serves as a powerful reminder of the trailblazers shaping the future of the sport.
