Twelve years after bursting onto the global stage as an 18-year-old sensation in Sochi, Mikaela Shiffrin has once again claimed the women’s slalom Olympic title at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, earning her third career Olympic gold medal and fourth overall.
The American superstar, now 30, delivered a masterful performance on the demanding Tofane course to end an eight-year individual Olympic medal drought since her giant slalom victory at PyeongChang 2018. Shiffrin posted the fastest first-run time of 47.13 seconds, building an 0.82-second lead, then sealed the win with a composed second run of 51.97 seconds for a combined 1:39.10 — a commanding 1.50 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Camille Rast (silver, 1:40.60) and 1.71 seconds clear of Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson (bronze, 1:40.81).
This triumph marks Shiffrin’s second Olympic slalom gold, mirroring her breakthrough win at Sochi 2014 where she became the youngest Olympic slalom champion in history. Today’s victory not only redeems a challenging start to these Games — with no podiums in her earlier events — but also solidifies her status as the most decorated U.S. Alpine skier in Olympic history, surpassing previous ties for the most golds.
Shiffrin attacked the gates with precision and aggression, showcasing the form that has made her the all-time World Cup wins leader (over 100 victories). Crossing the finish line, she erupted in celebration, pumping her fists as the crowd roared and her team rushed to embrace her. The moment symbolized resilience after years of dominance and recent pressures.
From Sochi’s youthful triumph to Cortina’s veteran mastery, Shiffrin’s journey highlights her enduring excellence in the sport’s most technical discipline. As one iconic image from 2014 fades into another from 2026, the message is clear: the Queen of Slalom reigns supreme once more.
