Shiffrin Disappoints in Team Event at 2026 Winter Olympics | Updates & Analysis
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – February 11, 2026 – Mikaela Shiffrin’s pursuit of Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics hit an early snag as the United States finished...
- Shiffrin arrived at the Games as the reigning World Cup slalom champion, a title she had secured prior to the competition.
- I wasn’t able to get to the level where I could push it fully,” Shiffrin said, as reported by The Guardian.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – – Mikaela Shiffrin’s pursuit of Olympic gold at the hit an early snag as the United States finished fourth in the alpine ski team event. Despite strong individual performances, particularly from Breezy Johnson, a mere six hundredths of a second separated the American duo from a medal.
Shiffrin arrived at the Games as the reigning World Cup slalom champion, a title she had secured prior to the competition. However, her performance in the team event, specifically her slalom run, proved to be a significant setback. While Johnson delivered a strong downhill leg, setting the pace for the American team, Shiffrin’s subsequent slalom run of 15th place ultimately proved costly.
“I didn’t feel comfortable enough in my run. I wasn’t able to get to the level where I could push it fully,” Shiffrin said, as reported by The Guardian. “I’ll try to learn from this and do better in the next races. Time is short, but I’m experienced enough to improve what I can improve.”
The pressure on Shiffrin is immense, particularly given her disappointing performance at the , where she failed to finish three of her six events and left without a medal. This Olympic cycle, she entered Cortina d’Ampezzo seeking redemption and a chance to add to her impressive collection of World Cup titles.
Johnson, a childhood friend of Shiffrin, attempted to offer support before her teammate’s run. “I already have my gold medal from these Games,” Johnson stated, referring to her victory in the women’s downhill. “I hope she has fun and gives it everything she has. And if something unexpected happens, I won’t tell her she messed it up.”
The gold medal in the team event was claimed by Austria’s Ariane Rädler and Katharina Huber. Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher secured the silver, while the bronze went to the American team of Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan. The close margin of defeat – just six hundredths of a second – underscores the fiercely competitive nature of alpine skiing and the razor-thin difference between success and disappointment.
Shiffrin, a 108-time World Cup winner, acknowledged the lack of excuses for her performance. “I don’t want to make excuses. If I can prepare for all the slaloms in the season, I should be able to do that at the Olympics as well. I really want to learn from the mistakes I made,” she added.
The U.S. Ski Team, however, demonstrated broader strength beyond Shiffrin and Vonn, as evidenced by their performance at the in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. The women’s squad secured medals in four of five events, including a gold medal in the team combined event featuring Shiffrin and Johnson, and two fourth-place finishes. Lauren Macuga also earned a bronze in Super-G, while Paula Moltzan took bronze in the giant slalom.
The strong showing at the World Championships signaled a depth of talent within the U.S. Team, suggesting that Shiffrin is not the sole medal contender for the Americans. Breezy Johnson’s gold in the downhill further highlights this potential.
Shiffrin’s Olympic schedule continues with the giant slalom on and the slalom on . These events represent crucial opportunities for her to rebound from the team event disappointment and contend for individual medals. The pressure will undoubtedly be intense, but Shiffrin’s experience and determination will be key factors in her pursuit of Olympic glory.
The American team will be looking to build on the momentum from the World Championships and the individual successes of athletes like Johnson and Moltzan. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are still in their early stages, and the U.S. Ski Team remains a force to be reckoned with.
The U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski Team roster includes Bryce Bennett, Mary Bocock, Keely Cashman, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Katie Hensien, Amelia Hurt, and Breezy Johnson, among others. These athletes represent a diverse range of experience and skill, and their performances will be closely watched throughout the remainder of the Games.