Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Olympic Slalom Gold Again/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mikaela Shiffrin captured Olympic gold in the slalom, ending an eight-year medal drought at the Winter Games. The American star won by a commanding 1.50 seconds in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The victory adds to her legendary résumé, including three Olympic gold medals and 108 World Cup wins.
Mikaela Shiffrin Olympic Slalom Victory Quick Looks
- Won slalom by 1.50 seconds in Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Third-largest winning margin in Olympic women’s slalom
- First Olympic medal since 2018
- Silver: Camille Rast (Switzerland)
- Bronze: Anna Swenn Larsson (Sweden)
- Now owns three Olympic golds and one silver
Deep Look: Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Olympic Slalom Gold Again
American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin completed a dramatic Olympic comeback Wednesday, capturing gold in the women’s slalom to end an eight-year medal drought at the Winter Games.
Competing in the scenic Italian resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Shiffrin delivered two commanding runs under clear skies framed by the jagged Dolomite peaks. Her combined time put her a dominant 1.50 seconds ahead of the field — the third-largest winning margin in women’s Olympic slalom history.
The victory marked a full-circle moment in Shiffrin’s Olympic career. She first claimed slalom gold as an 18-year-old at the 2014 Sochi Games, instantly announcing herself as one of Alpine skiing’s brightest stars. Twelve years later, she returned to the top of the Olympic podium in the same discipline, reaffirming her reputation as one of the sport’s greatest athletes.
Switzerland’s Camille Rast took silver, while Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson earned bronze. In the finish area, the three embraced as emotions spilled over for Shiffrin, who pumped her fists toward the crowd before sharing a long hug with her mother and coach, Eileen.
The 30-year-old later admitted she struggled to process the magnitude of the achievement.
“It’s really hard to understand and process,” she said, reflecting on how the win connected back to her breakthrough performance in Sochi. “Maybe just today, I realized what happened in Sochi. It’s crazy.”
For Shiffrin, the gold medal also represented redemption after years of Olympic frustration. Following her gold and silver medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, she endured a shocking performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she failed to win a medal in six events. The result stunned fans and analysts alike, casting doubt on whether the Olympic stage would again deliver glory for one of skiing’s most decorated competitors.
Her campaign in Cortina initially suggested more disappointment. She finished 11th in the giant slalom and narrowly missed the podium in the team combined event alongside Breezy Johnson, where she placed 15th in the slalom leg. Those results only intensified scrutiny heading into her signature discipline.
But slalom has long been Shiffrin’s domain. Known for her technical precision, fluid edge control and mental composure under pressure, she delivered two nearly flawless runs when it mattered most. The commanding margin underscored the gap between her and the competition on a day when conditions were ideal for elite performance.
The win adds to an already historic résumé. Shiffrin now owns three Olympic gold medals and one silver, complementing her unparalleled World Cup achievements. She holds the all-time record with 108 World Cup victories — 71 of them in slalom — a tally that continues to grow.
Beyond the statistics, Wednesday’s performance reinforced Shiffrin’s enduring resilience. Over a 12-year Olympic journey marked by early triumph, crushing setbacks and renewed determination, she has navigated the immense expectations placed upon her as the face of American Alpine skiing.
With this latest gold medal, Shiffrin not only ends her Olympic drought but also strengthens her legacy as one of the most accomplished and influential figures in winter sports history.
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