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Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Third Olympic Slalom Gold, Dedicates Triumph to Late Father

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  • United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's giant slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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  • United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026.
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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  • United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026.
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during women's slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 18, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size

Shiffrin Secures Slalom Gold with 1.50‑Second Margin On Feb 18, 2026, Mikaela Shiffrin posted a combined time of 1:39.10 to win the women’s slalom at Cortina d’Ampezzo, finishing 1.50 seconds ahead of the silver‑medalist Camille Rast (Swiss) [1][2][3][4]. The victory marks the largest slalom winning margin at any Winter Olympics since 1998 and the third‑largest ever in women’s slalom [1][4]. Her performance ended an eight‑year Olympic medal drought, the longest of her career [1][5][6].

Victory Honors Late Father Jeff Shiffrin Throughout both runs Shiffrin said she was thinking of her father, Jeff, who died in a February 2020 home accident in Colorado [1][2][3][4][5]. She described the moment as a form of rebirth and “being born again,” noting that the win felt like a conversation with him [2][4]. After crossing the finish line she embraced her mother, coach Eileen Shiffrin, and fiancé Alexander Aamodt Kilde, while silver‑medalist Camille Rast gave her a hug on the podium [1][2].

Historic Firsts and Record‑Setting Achievements The gold makes Shiffrin the first U.S. skier to claim three Olympic Alpine gold medals and the only winter Olympian with a 12‑year gap between golds in the same event [2][3][4]. She also became both the youngest (18) and oldest (30) woman to win Olympic Alpine gold, a unique dual record highlighted by CNN [2]. The 1.50‑second margin is the biggest in any Olympic Alpine event since 1998, underscoring the dominance of her two runs [1][4].

Season‑Long Dominance Provided Momentum Entering Cortina as the heavy favourite, Shiffrin had already won seven of eight World Cup slalom races that season and held a record 108 World Cup victories across all disciplines [3][5][8]. She secured her ninth overall World Cup slalom title earlier in the year, reinforcing her status as the sport’s most successful racer [8][6][7]. Her 11th‑place finish in the giant slalom, just 0.3 seconds shy of a medal, demonstrated competitive form heading into the slalom [5][6][8].

Mental Resilience After Past Olympic Setbacks After a 0‑for‑6 showing in Beijing 2022 and a crash that left her off the podium in the 2022 combined, Shiffrin emphasized the mental challenge of repeated slalom runs, noting that each run “never gets easier” [6][7][8]. She credited therapy and a “loud” self‑affirmation routine on Instagram for rebuilding confidence following a 2024 puncture injury [2][3]. U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt praised her “well‑deserved” medal and ability to thrive under pressure [1][4].

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Timeline

Feb 2020 – Shiffrin’s father Jeff dies in a February home‑accident in Colorado, a loss she later describes as the emotional core of her career and a source of “peace” when she thinks of him during competition [1][2][3][8].

Feb 2022 – At the Beijing Winter Games Shiffrin crashes out of both the giant slalom and slalom, finishing 0‑for‑6 and leaving the Olympics without a medal for the first time since her 2014 debut [1][3].

Dec 2024 – Shiffrin suffers a puncture wound and stomach‑muscle damage in a crash at Killington, an injury that fuels a “year‑long invisible injury” and prompts extensive mental‑health work [1].

Dec 16 2025 – She wins a night slalom in Courchevel, marking her 105th World Cup victory and posting a 1.55‑second margin, extending a season‑long streak of dominant slalom wins [7].

Dec 25 2025 – Shiffrin opens the Olympic season with four straight World Cup slalom victories, securing a perfect start and reinforcing her focus on mental resilience ahead of Cortina [6].

Jan 13 2026 – Shiffrin captures the Flachau night slalom, her 107th World Cup win and 70th slalom victory, extending her season dominance to six of seven slaloms before the Games begin [5].

Feb 6 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics open, setting the stage for Shiffrin’s final Olympic campaign [5].

Feb 14 2026 (approx.) – A sluggish combined run leaves Shiffrin 15th and costs her a podium, the worst slalom finish since 2012, while she still secures her ninth overall World Cup slalom title [4].

Feb 15 2026 (approx.) – She finishes 11th in the Olympic giant slalom, just 0.3 seconds shy of a medal, demonstrating she remains within striking distance despite recent setbacks [4][10].

Feb 17 2026 – Shiffrin declares the women’s slalom on Feb 18 her “final Olympic slalom” and a chance to end an eight‑year medal drought, noting she has already clinched a record ninth World Cup slalom title and 108 career World Cup wins [4][1].

Feb 18 2026 (morning) – Ahead of the slalom, she remarks, “No matter how many runs of slalom I do, it never gets easier… it only makes you more aware of how challenging it is,” and emphasizes a “no expectations” mindset while the race is slated for live streaming on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com [9][11][10].

Feb 18 2026 (afternoon) – Shiffrin wins the Olympic women’s slalom in Cortina d’Ampezzo with a 1:39.10 total, a 1.50‑second margin—the largest Alpine Olympic margin since 1998—and becomes the first U.S. skier with three Alpine golds, fulfilling a “peace” tribute to her late father [1][2][3][8][10].

Feb 18 2026 (post‑race) – During the medal ceremony she hugs her mother, coach Eileen, fiancé Alexander Aamodt Kilde, and silver‑medalist Camille Rast, embodying the personal closure she described as “being born again” [2][8].

Feb 18 2026 (afterward) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt calls the victory “well‑deserved,” praising Shiffrin’s resilience in overcoming Olympic pressure and past setbacks [3][8].

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