Final Slalom Scheduled for Feb 18 at Tofane Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in the women’s slalom on Wednesday, Feb 18, her third and last event of the Milan‑Cortina Games, hoping to secure her first medal of the 2026 Olympics and her first overall since 2018 [1][2][3]. Run 1 begins at 4 a.m. ET, with Run 2 at 7:30 a.m. ET, streamed live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com [1][2]. The U.S. field also includes Paula Moltzan, Nina O’Brien and AJ Hurt [1][2].

Recent Combined and Giant Slalom Results Narrow Medal Window A sluggish slalom leg in the women’s combined last week left Shiffrin 15th and eliminated her from podium contention, a performance described as “bafflingly slow” [1][2][3]. Two days later she posted an 11th‑place finish in the giant slalom, just 0.3 seconds behind the bronze medalist, underscoring how thin the margin remains [1][2][3]. Those results keep her within striking distance but highlight the razor‑thin gaps that separate medalists from the rest of the field.

Career World Cup Slalom Record Reinforces Medal Aspirations Shiffrin has already clinched a record ninth World Cup slalom title, adding to her 71 career slalom victories, including seven this season [1][2][3]. Her overall World Cup win total now stands at 108 across all disciplines, cementing her status as the sport’s most successful racer [3]. The dominance in regular‑season competition fuels expectations that she can translate that form into an Olympic podium finish.

Mental Pressure and Rival Support Highlight Race Context Shiffrin acknowledges that each slalom run feels increasingly demanding, noting the mental challenge of repeated runs despite her experience [1][2]. Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova, returning from a 2024 knee injury, publicly expressed confidence in Shiffrin’s chances ahead of the slalom [3]. The combination of personal pressure and peer endorsement frames the final race as both a personal test and a high‑stakes showdown.