Alpine Skier Claims Olympic Gold in Slalom Triumph

Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated Alpine skier in history, capped her Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics journey with a dominant gold medal in the women’s slalom on Feb. 18, ending an eight-year Olympic medal drought and solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The 30-year-old American delivered a commanding performance on the Tofane course, posting a combined time of 1:39.10 to win by 1.50 seconds over Switzerland’s Camille Rast — the largest margin in an Olympic women’s slalom since 1998. It marked her third career Olympic gold, making her the first U.S. Alpine skier to achieve the feat and tying her with legends like Shaun White for second-most Winter Olympic golds by an American.

Here are 10 key things to know about Shiffrin, whose record-breaking career continues to redefine excellence in ski racing.

1. Record-Breaking World Cup Dominance Shiffrin holds the all-time record for most World Cup wins with 108 victories, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark’s previous mark. She has claimed nine slalom crystal globes — a record — and leads the 2025-26 overall standings with 1,133 points ahead of Rast’s 963, showcasing her consistency across disciplines despite specializing in technical events.
2. Youngest Olympic Slalom Champion At just 18, Shiffrin became the youngest Olympic slalom gold medalist ever when she won at the 2014 Sochi Games. That victory launched her meteoric rise, and her 2026 slalom gold now makes her both the youngest and oldest American woman to win Olympic Alpine gold.
3. Historic Third Olympic Gold The Feb. 18 triumph in Cortina gave Shiffrin her third Olympic gold — two in slalom (2014, 2026) and one in giant slalom from PyeongChang 2018 — plus a silver in combined from 2018. She now stands alone as the U.S. Alpine skier with the most Olympic golds, surpassing Ted Ligety and Andrea Mead Lawrence.
4. Overcoming Olympic Setbacks Shiffrin endured a frustrating eight-year Olympic medal drought, failing to podium in her final six races at Beijing 2022 and her first two events in Milan Cortina 2026. The slalom victory provided sweet redemption, with Shiffrin describing it as a moment that “rewrote her legacy” after carrying immense expectations.
5. Technical Mastery in Slalom Widely regarded as the greatest slalom skier ever, Shiffrin has won the discipline’s World Cup globe nine times. Her 2026 Olympic win featured a flawless second run that extended her first-run lead of 0.82 seconds, highlighting her precision, speed and mental resilience under pressure.
6. Injury Resilience Shiffrin missed much of the 2024-25 season after a severe puncture wound from a crash in Killington, Vermont, but returned stronger. Her ability to rebound from injuries and setbacks has become a hallmark, fueling comebacks that keep her at the pinnacle of the sport.
7. Versatile Across Disciplines While slalom remains her signature, Shiffrin has excelled in giant slalom, super-G and combined events, earning world championships and World Cup titles in multiple categories. Her versatility has helped her amass points and maintain top overall rankings season after season.
8. Inspirational Figure Off the Slopes Beyond racing, Shiffrin advocates for mental health in sports, especially after navigating public scrutiny during slumps. Married to fellow skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, she balances elite competition with personal life, serving as a role model for young athletes worldwide.
9. Path to Milan Cortina Glory Entering her fourth Olympics, Shiffrin competed in giant slalom, slalom and team combined. After no medals in her first two races, she delivered in her signature slalom — her final event — with a performance teammates and coaches called “imperious” and “storybook.”
10. Legacy Secured at 30 With the 2026 gold, Shiffrin cements her place among skiing’s immortals. Her 108 World Cup wins, multiple crystal globes, world titles and now three Olympic golds position her as arguably the greatest Alpine skier ever. As the Games conclude, she eyes continued dominance in the World Cup finale and beyond.

Shiffrin’s slalom triumph on a sunlit Dolomites day not only ended personal disappointment but elevated Team USA’s Alpine program. Her journey from teenage prodigy to enduring legend inspires millions, proving persistence and skill can conquer any challenge on snow.