American skier Mikaela Shiffrin overcame early setbacks to claim gold in the women's slalom at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 30-year-old reflected on the event's overwhelming pressures and the importance of mental health in an exclusive interview. Her victory marked her third Olympic gold medal.
Mikaela Shiffrin's campaign at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics began with challenges. She narrowly missed the podium in the team combined event alongside teammate Breezy Johnson. An 11th-place finish in the giant slalom followed, raising questions about her form.
The tide turned in the slalom, where Shiffrin delivered a strong performance. Her first run clocked in at 47.13 seconds, securing the top spot temporarily. The second run, completed in 51.97 seconds, sealed the gold with a total time of 1:39:10. This win represented her third Olympic gold and second in slalom.
Prior to the Olympics, Shiffrin had won six of her seven starts and clinched her ninth slalom Crystal Globe. Before the race, she expressed confidence: “It was a really good run. For me, it felt really clear. I felt pretty excited... I feel prepared to take on the nervousness.”
Post-victory, Shiffrin shared insights on the Olympics' complexities in an interview with EssentiallySports. “The Olympic experience... is crazy. It’s so overwhelming. Really, really exciting,” she said. She highlighted the "dark side," including crashes, falls, and criticism from fans and media. Reflecting on Beijing 2022, where she earned no medals—including DNFs in giant slalom and slalom, ninth in super-G—she noted the pressure on athletes.
Shiffrin praised peers prioritizing personal well-being: “I’ve been loving hearing so many athletes talk about their life outside of this sport... prioritizing their happiness, their family, their physical health, their mental health.” After the win, she added, “Today I showed up for the skiing... Now, to also get to have a medal is unbelievable.”
She emphasized that most athletes leave without medals but remain inspiring. Following the Olympics, Shiffrin plans to train for super-G and compete in the World Cup in Soldeu, Andorra, on February 28 and March 1.
