Mikaela Shiffrin powered through the Tofane course with trademark precision and aggression, posting a blistering first-run time of 47.13 seconds to seize a commanding lead in the women’s slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The American legend, seeking to snap an eight-year individual Olympic medal drought, holds an imposing 0.82-second advantage over Germany’s Lena Dürr in second place. Sweden’s Cornelia Öhlund sits third (+1.00), setting up a high-stakes battle for gold as the top 30 advance to the decisive second run.
Shiffrin’s explosive performance — featuring sharp, decisive turns on the demanding pitch — reinforces her status as the overwhelming favorite in her signature event. The 30-year-old has dominated the World Cup slalom circuit this season and now stands on the brink of her first Olympic gold since 2018 (giant slalom in PyeongChang) and potentially her first slalom Olympic title since Sochi 2014.
Team USA’s depth shone through as well: AJ Hurt delivered a strong showing with a time of 49.35 (+2.22), securing 17th place, while Paula Moltzan battled through late mistakes to clock 49.90 (+2.77) and hold onto 28th — just inside the cut line for Run 2. The trio’s qualification gives the U.S. three shots at climbing the podium when the gates open again.
The second run kicks off at 7:30 a.m. ET (13:30 CET), broadcast live on Peacock and USA Network. With Shiffrin’s sizable buffer and the unpredictable nature of slalom — where one mistake can erase leads — drama is guaranteed on the iconic Italian slope.
Current top contenders after Run 1 (key highlights):
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – 47.13
Lena Dürr (GER) – +0.82
Cornelia Öhlund (SWE) – +1.00
…
AJ Hurt (USA) – +2.22
Paula Moltzan (USA) – +2.77
Can Shiffrin close the deal and etch another historic chapter? Will Hurt or Moltzan surge up the leaderboard? Or could a rival pull off a stunning comeback?
