Feb 18, 2026 - Sports

Mikaela Shiffrin clinches gold at Winter Olympics

Esteban L. Hernandez

Alpine skier in USA gear and black helmet racing downhill on snowy slope, navigating blue and red slalom poles, using red Atomic skis, with Olympic rings visible on uniform. — Mikaela Shiffrin competes during the women's slalom run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Mikaela Shiffrin's eight-year Olympic podium dry spell is over.

The big picture: The 30-year-old alpine skier earned a gold medal Wednesday in the women's slalom event, outpacing the field at the Milan Cortina games by 1.5 seconds to end an eight-year medal drought, the AP reports.

Why it matters: It's a climatic redemption for Shiffrin, the Edwards, Colorado, native who didn't make the podium during the 2022 Beijing Games — and a reminder of why she's considered one of the best alpine skiers of all time.

The latest win secured Shiffrin's third Olympic gold medal.

What they're saying: "In the end, today, showing up — that was the thing I wanted most," Shiffrin said post-race. "More than the medal. Now, to also get to have a medal is unbelievable."

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Mikaela Shiffrin clinches gold at Winter Olympics

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