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Mikaela Shiffrin arrived at the Winter Games carrying expectations that few athletes in Olympic history have had to shoulder. A proven champion, a dominant World Cup force, and the face of U.S. alpine skiing, Shiffrin once again found herself confronting an uncomfortable Olympic reality—brilliance outside the Games has not translated to medals when it matters most.
A missed opportunity in the team event
Shiffrin’s latest disappointment came during the alpine team event, where she paired with Breezy Johnson. After Johnson delivered a commanding run, Shiffrin needed only a mid-pack slalom performance to secure a medal for the United States.
Instead, she finished 15th out of 18 skiers, leaving the duo off the podium and reigniting questions about her Olympic struggles.
The result was jarring, particularly given Mikaela Shiffrin’s unmatched résumé in slalom. She owns 71 World Cup slalom victories—more than any skier, male or female, in history—making her result difficult to reconcile with her usual standards.
Mikaela Shiffrin addresses the struggles
Following the race, Shiffrin was candid about her performance and mindset.
“I didn’t find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed,” Shiffrin told reporters Tuesday, via Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post. “So I’m going to have to learn what to do, what to adjust, in the short time we have before the other tech races. There’s always something to learn.”
Her comments reflected a familiar theme at the Olympics—small margins, subtle discomforts, and timing that simply hasn’t aligned for the American star.
A pattern dating back to Beijing
Mikaela Shiffrin’s Olympic issues are no longer isolated to one event or one Games. As Svrluga noted, “Shiffrin’s discombobulating debut at these Olympics comes four years after her struggles in Beijing,” where she failed to finish multiple events despite being a medal favorite. The contrast is stark: she had not finished 15th or worse in a World Cup slalom since March 2012, just days after her 17th birthday.
This season, Shiffrin has been nearly flawless on the World Cup circuit, winning every slalom race but one. Yet the Olympic stage has again proven unforgiving.
Looking ahead with perspective
“I’m careful not to make excuses,” Shiffrin said, via Svrluga. “But it comes from different variables. It is a sport of fine margins and a lot of variables.”
While her miss opened the door for teammates Paula Moltzan and Jackie Wiles to claim bronze, Mikaela Shiffrin is left searching for answers. The medals may be missing, but the pursuit—and the puzzle—continues.
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