Mikaela Shiffrin wants to 'do my skiing justice' as she turns attention to slalom medal bid at Milano Cortina Games after giant slalom
By Becky Hart
Updated 15/02/2026 at 21:51 GMT
React to this story
Mikaela Shiffrin is taking the positives from her giant slalom experience at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, after the American great finished 11th in an event won by home favourite Federica Brignone. Shiffrin also finished outside the medals in the team event, and has one more chance of a medal - in the slalom on Wednesday, which will be live on TNT sports and discovery+.
More Olympic heartbreak for Shiffrin as US superstar misses out on podium
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin says she wants to do her skiing "justice" as she bids for a first medal of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in the slalom.
USA great Shiffrin was keen to take as many positives as she can from her second event in Milano Cortina, where she finished 11th in the giant slalom.
Having finished fourth with Breezy Johnson in the team event, Shiffrin is still chasing a first Olympic medal since Pyeongchang in 2018, where she claimed gold in the giant slalom.
However, 71 of her 108 world cup wins have come in the slalom - and that will be her last chance at a medal at these Olympics.
The slalom takes place on Wednesday, February 18 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"It was really helpful to get two runs down this hill," Shiffrin said after the giant slalom.
"Of course, slalom is a totally different event and requires a different level of precision and quickness for sure.
"But to be able to stand in the start gate and feel the butterflies and the adrenaline and to turn that into intensity with my skiing and to put on the hill some of my highest level skiing was really exciting.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/15/image-28a70c33-5043-4799-aa66-6c0e8b36424f-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch: 'Never seen that happen!' - Skiers record exact same times - TWICE - to share silver
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I would like to take that excitement into the slalom. I also acknowledge I am in a very different position in slalom to giant slalom and have had very successful races so far this season, so there is a level of wanting to do my skiing justice.
"But I am here for the turns, for the skiing in between the start and the finish, and quieting down any other noise is probably the most important thing I can do so I have access to the best skiing I can do."
- Bankes and Nightingale savour 'iconic' and 'unreal' gold
- Kok beats Leerdam to speed skating 500m gold with new Olympic record
Shiffrin suffered a puncture injury in late 2024, which disrupted her 2024/25 season. But so far this season, she has been in fine form - winning seven of the eight slalom World Cups she has entered, and finishing second in the other.
"I feel really quite positive, I was pushing both runs," Shiffrin said. "For sure I lost some time here and there, but I have been building and pushing and this is the most I have pushed in a [giant slalom] race all season," Shiffrin explained.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/15/image-b95f8410-e1b3-4167-929f-fcdeacaf4de8-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch Brignone's wondrous winning run to seal double gold - 'She wouldn't have dreamt this!'
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It’s unavoidable to think that I’m in a really good position in slalom. My slalom skiing is strong and I have been in a good position all season long.
"But I think no matter how many times that I am victorious in slalom, it still takes the same amount of energy or more, monumental energy every time that I step into the gate, and the precision is so important, all of these pieces.
"It takes high energy, good precision, you have to accept the nervousness and that doesn’t change, it only gets harder. I’m looking forward to bringing the intensity on slalom day and that’s my only task."
Brignone took her second gold of her home Olympic Games in the giant slalom - and Shiffrin was quick to pay tribute to her rival and friend, who was coming back from a horrific injury of her own.
The Italian tore her ACL and broke her leg in a crash last spring, making her performances at this Winter Olympics all the more impressive.
"[It] was really fun to be part of it and really cool to see the top women racing today and Federica - it’s so incredible to watch her skiing and especially giant slalom, it’s beautiful."
And while Brignone’s comeback story has had a golden ending, there is still time for Shiffrin to do the same.
The first run of the women’s slalom is at 09:00 UK time on February 18.
-
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
Advertisement
Advertisement