Mikaela Shiffrin Secures Gold in Slalom, U.S. Men’s Hockey Advances to Quarterfinals
Milan Cortina, Italy – – Mikaela Shiffrin delivered a dominant performance in the women’s slalom today, winning gold in what was her final Olympic appearance. The victory provides a moment of redemption for the decorated alpine skier, who had faced challenges earlier in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Shiffrin finished a remarkable 1.50 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Switzerland’s Camille Rast, with Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson taking bronze. The win marks a triumphant moment for Shiffrin, who had previously struggled to find the podium in these Games and had openly discussed the psychological impact of a serious crash in 2024.
The U.S. Men’s hockey team also secured a significant victory today, advancing to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. They will face Sweden in a highly anticipated matchup after Sweden defeated Latvia 5-1 to earn their spot in the quarterfinals.
U.S. Winger Matthew Tkachuk described Sweden as “one of the powerhouses in the world,” acknowledging the challenge that lies ahead for the American team. The quarterfinal game is scheduled for today.
Key Events and Results from Wednesday
Beyond Shiffrin’s gold and the men’s hockey advancement, Wednesday’s events at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured a range of competitions. Here’s a look at some of the key results:
- Snowboard: The women’s slopestyle final is scheduled for .
- Biathlon: The women’s 4x6km relay final will take place at .
- Ice Hockey: The U.S. Men’s hockey team will compete in the playoff quarterfinals against Sweden.
In men’s snowboard slopestyle, Jake Canter secured a bronze medal for the United States. His final run, featuring a 1980, earned him a score of 79.36, holding off challenges from competitors like Norway’s Marcus Kleveland. Fellow American Red Gerard finished sixth, and Oliver Martin placed ninth. China’s Su Yiming took gold, and Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa earned silver.
The U.S. Men’s cross-country team also achieved success, with Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher winning a silver medal in the team sprint. Norway, led by Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, took gold. This victory marked Klaebo’s 10th career Olympic gold medal, placing him alongside Michael Phelps as one of only two Olympians to achieve that milestone.
While the U.S. Women’s cross-country team, featuring Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern, finished fifth in the women’s team sprint, they fell short of medaling.
The freeski women’s aerials competition began with qualifiers after a weather-related postponement. Tasia Tanner, Winter Vinecki, and Kaila Kuhn all advanced to the finals, scheduled for / , seeking their first Olympic medals.
