Mikaela Shiffrin’s Struggles in Early Events Add Pressure at 2026 Winter Olympics

Mikaela Shiffrin’s start to the 2026 Winter Olympics has taken an unexpected turn, heightening the pressure on one of the most decorated skiers in history.

Competing in the women’s combined event at Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Shiffrin struggled in the slalom portion, finishing 15th out of 18 skiers. When paired with teammate Breezy Johnson’s strong downhill run, the result pushed the American team to fourth place, just off the medal podium.

The outcome was surprising given Shiffrin’s dominance in slalom skiing, where she owns more than 70 World Cup victories and an Olympic gold medal. Her finish marked her worst result in the discipline in more than a decade and echoed memories of her difficult 2022 Beijing Games, where she left without a medal after multiple disappointing performances.

With Lindsey Vonn sidelined, Shiffrin has become the focal point of Team USA’s alpine hopes. That spotlight now shines brighter as her remaining medal opportunities narrow to the giant slalom and slalom later this month.

Despite the setback, Shiffrin showed grace in defeat, celebrating alongside teammates Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan, who secured bronze in the event. She also leaned on the support of Johnson, a longtime friend who encouraged her to focus on skiing freely rather than feeling the weight of expectations.

Shiffrin acknowledged after the race that she never found the comfort she needed on the course, saying the run gave her valuable information moving forward. Whether that experience translates into a rebound remains to be seen, but the pressure is unmistakable as one of the Olympics’ biggest stars looks to reset and respond.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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