In what could be her defining moment of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin delivered a masterful first run in the women’s slalom on Wednesday, surging to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 47.13 seconds.
The 30-year-old skiing legend, chasing her first Olympic medal since 2018, holds a substantial 0.82-second advantage over Germany’s Lena Dürr in second place. Shiffrin’s aggressive, precise line through the demanding Tofane course showcased the form that has made her the most successful slalom skier in World Cup history, with 71 victories in the discipline and nine crystal globes to her name.
After earlier disappointments in these Games—including an 11th-place finish in giant slalom—Shiffrin stormed down the nearly 600-foot vertical drop with clean edges and unflinching confidence. She lunged across the finish line, pumping her fist as the crowd erupted, knowing she had set a benchmark that will be tough to match in the decisive second run later today.
“This is what she’s built for,” one commentator noted, highlighting how Shiffrin’s signature event offers her the strongest shot at gold or a podium finish in her final Alpine opportunity at these Olympics.
The pressure has been immense for the American icon, who entered the Games as a favorite but faced challenges in earlier events. A strong performance here could not only end her eight-year individual Olympic medal drought but also add to her legacy as one of the greatest Alpine skiers ever.
Fans and analysts alike are buzzing: With such a healthy lead, all eyes are on Shiffrin’s second run. Can she seal the deal and reclaim slalom glory, 12 years after her Sochi 2014 triumph?
Live updates and full results are available on the official FIS App. The second run promises high-stakes drama on the iconic Cortina slopes.
