In a dominant display that silenced doubters and rewrote her legacy, American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin stormed to gold in the women’s slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ending an eight-year Olympic medal drought with pure firepower on the slopes.
The 30-year-old phenom delivered two masterful runs at the Tofane course, clocking a combined time of 1:39.10 to crush the field by a massive 1.50 seconds—the largest margin in an Olympic Alpine event in decades. Switzerland’s Camille Rast took silver, while Sweden’s Anna Swenn-Larsson claimed bronze.
Shiffrin’s victory wasn’t just about the hardware; it was a triumphant redemption arc. After a disappointing 11th in giant slalom and earlier struggles, she flipped the script with a mindset shift that prioritized pure skiing over pressure.
“Just ski… I’m so happy to do the right thing in the right moment,” Shiffrin told NBC post-race. “At some point this week, I just said, stop dreaming. Just ski.”
This gold catapults her to the top of U.S. Alpine history: her third Olympic gold (following slalom in 2014 and giant slalom in 2018), making her the most decorated American skier ever with four total Olympic medals. She’s now both the youngest and oldest American woman to win slalom gold—12 years apart in the same event.
Teammate Breezy Johnson, fresh off her own downhill success, led the congratulations with a heartfelt message: “So proud of what you have accomplished… oh and winning the medal too! 😍 🤗” Fellow legend Lindsey Vonn also chimed in with support, highlighting the unbreakable spirit of Team USA’s ski stars.
Shiffrin’s performance capped the Alpine skiing program in style, drawing massive cheers and reigniting debates about her place among all-time greats. With the Olympics winding down, her story of resilience continues to inspire.
The skiing world celebrates a legend reborn—Shiffrin didn’t just win; she soared. 🇺🇸🥇
