Lead
On Feb. 15, 2026 at the Milano Cortina Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Mikaela Shiffrin finished 11th in the women’s giant slalom with a combined time of 2:14.42, missing a second Olympic podium opportunity. Italy’s Federica Brignone won gold in 2:13.50, while Sweden’s Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund tied for silver. Shiffrin, 30, had been seventh after the first run but could not make up enough time in the second. The result leaves Shiffrin still seeking an Olympic medal since her 2018 combined silver.
Key Takeaways
- Mikaela Shiffrin placed 11th in the women’s giant slalom on Feb. 15, 2026 with a total time of 2:14.42.
- Federica Brignone (ITA) claimed gold with a winning time of 2:13.50; Sara Hector (SWE) and Thea Louise Stjernesund (NOR) shared silver.
- Shiffrin began the second run in seventh position but dropped to 11th after the second descent.
- U.S. teammates Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finished 15th and 20th, respectively; A.J. Hurt did not advance to the second run.
- Earlier at these Games Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson finished fourth in the team combined event after a slow slalom leg by Shiffrin.
- This is Shiffrin’s fourth Olympic appearance; she is credited with three Olympic medals, including two golds, and has not medaled since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
- Shiffrin has one remaining individual event at these Games: the slalom later this week.
Background
Mikaela Shiffrin arrived at Milano Cortina as one of the most accomplished U.S. skiers, with multiple world titles and Olympic medals to her name. Expectations were high given her track record in technical events, particularly slalom, and her experience on championship stages. Giant slalom has been more variable in Shiffrin’s Olympic history: four years ago she did not finish the first run and therefore could not defend her previous title in a different discipline. The 2026 field featured several specialists—Federica Brignone among them—who have produced consistently strong World Cup giant slalom results on similar slopes.
The Milano Cortina course at Tofane presented classical alpine conditions and a challenging line, factors that favored skiers who combined speed with precise gate geometry. National teams prepared with course-specific tuning and multiple practice runs; small setup or traction differences can yield tenths of a second per gate and decide podium positions. For the U.S. team, depth beyond Shiffrin remains a focus after mixed outcomes in technical events so far at these Games.
Main Event
The giant slalom final unfolded in two runs. After the first run Shiffrin ranked seventh, within reach of a medal position but trailing the leaders by a small margin. In the second run she was unable to shave sufficient time off her total, ending with a combined time of 2:14.42 and finishing 11th overall. Brignone put together two quick, consistent runs to set the benchmark at 2:13.50 and secured gold on home-venue snow.
Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund produced identical totals and were awarded joint silver medals, a relatively uncommon outcome that underlines how tight the margins were. U.S. teammates Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien completed respectable runs to place 15th and 20th; A.J. Hurt did not qualify for the second run after a slower first-leg performance. Spectators and camera coverage highlighted both Brignone’s controlled aggression and the narrow time differentials separating the top athletes.
Photographs and on-course reports captured visible disappointment from Shiffrin after the second run, while coaches and team staff maintained focus on technical adjustments ahead of the slalom event. The result was an improvement on her DNF at the previous Olympics’ giant slalom but fell short of medal expectations for a skier of her pedigree.
Analysis & Implications
From a performance standpoint, the giant slalom outcome emphasizes how small time gaps decide podiums in alpine skiing. Shiffrin’s 2:14.42 was less than a second behind the winner; in technical events, tenths often reflect minute line choices or edge grip differences. That narrowness means a single tactical change—body position, ski setup, or split-second timing—can alter medal prospects dramatically.
For Shiffrin’s season and legacy, the miss extends an unusual Olympic medal drought given her World Cup dominance and prior Olympic successes. While career totals and World Championship results remain exceptional, Olympic outcomes weigh heavily in public narratives; another podium absence at Milan Cortina increases scrutiny on equipment choices and race-day decisions. Yet skiing careers are long, and a strong slalom ride later this week could recalibrate perceptions.
At the team level, the U.S. women’s technical squad showed mixed depth: Moltzan and O’Brien finished in the top 20 but no American joined the podium. That pattern places more emphasis on preparation for slalom and on marginal gains in waxing and tuning. Conversely, Brignone’s gold on Italian snow underscores the advantage of course familiarity and crowd momentum, factors that can amplify performance in tight competitions.
Comparison & Data
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federica Brignone | ITA | 2:13.50 |
| 2 (tie) | Sara Hector | SWE | — |
| 2 (tie) | Thea Louise Stjernesund | NOR | — |
| 11 | Mikaela Shiffrin | USA | 2:14.42 |
Official result bulletins provided exact times for the winner and Shiffrin’s combined total; several mid‑rank times were not released in the source summary and are noted as unavailable above. The table highlights that Shiffrin finished roughly 0.92 seconds behind Brignone’s total—an uncommonly small margin across two runs but decisive at this level.
Reactions & Quotes
Federica Brignone listed as the gold medallist in the event with an official winning time of 2:13.50.
Milano Cortina 2026 — Official Results
Mikaela Shiffrin is recorded in the official results as finishing 11th with a combined time of 2:14.42.
Milano Cortina 2026 — Official Results
Photographs and wire coverage captured Shiffrin’s visible reaction after the second run, reflecting the high stakes and narrow margins of Olympic technical racing.
REUTERS / AFP (wire coverage)
Unconfirmed
- Any specific equipment malfunction or tuning issue that may have affected Shiffrin’s second run has not been confirmed by team statements or technical reports.
- Whether course conditions shifted between runs in a way that disproportionately affected particular start positions remains under investigation by race organizers and has not been declared.
Bottom Line
Mikaela Shiffrin’s 11th-place finish in the giant slalom at Milano Cortina extends her current Olympic medal gap but does not erase her broader career achievements. The result reflects the razor-thin margins of technical alpine events where tenths of a second decide outcomes across two runs. With one individual event remaining—the slalom—Shiffrin still has an opportunity to contend for a medal this week, and preparation choices between now and that race will be pivotal.
For the U.S. team, the giant slalom highlighted both competitive potential and areas for marginal gains in preparation and equipment setup. Federica Brignone’s victory and the shared silver between Hector and Stjernesund also underscore the depth and unpredictability of the field at these Games. Observers should watch the slalom for whether Shiffrin can convert experience and adjustments into a return to the Olympic podium.
Sources
- New York Post (news report summarizing event outcome)
- Milano Cortina 2026 — Official Results (official competition results)
- REUTERS (international wire coverage and photo captions)