Mikaela Shiffrin misses Olympic podium by 0.06 seconds in team combined

Mikaela Shiffrin‘s Olympic dream shattered by mere 0.06 seconds in team combined. The skiing legend finished fourth on February 10, 2026, at Milan-Cortina, extending her frustrating medal drought. What happened in the slalom leg that cost Team USA the podium?

Austria Pulls Off Historic Upset at Milan-Cortina

Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber claimed gold in the inaugural Olympic women’s team combined event, stunning the heavily favored American duo. The Austrian underclogs toppled what many expected would be a dominant US victory, marking a shocking turn in alpine skiing.

Raedler and Huber’s triumph comes as their nation continues to flex its considerable alpine prowess on the world stage. The Austrian pair edged out talented competitors across both the downhill and slalom portions on Tuesday at the Milan-Cortina Games.

Breezy Johnson’s Downhill Mastery Meets Shiffrin’s Slalom Slump

Breezy Johnson, fresh off her downhill gold medal on Sunday, delivered once again in the downhill leg. The Olympic champion posted the fastest downhill time of 1:36.59, giving her partner a favorable position entering the slalom portion.

Shiffrin, typically a slalom specialist, inexplicably struggled in her discipline. She posted the 15th fastest slalom time, dropping the American team dramatically down the standings. Sources indicate Shiffrin delivered one of her worst slalom performances in recent memory.

Medal Standings and Race Results

The inaugural team combined event revealed new dynamics in Olympic alpine racing. Team formats pair a downhill specialist with a slalom expert, challenging competitors across both disciplines. The following teams captured the podium positions.

Position	Team	Country	Time
Gold	Raedler, Huber	Austria	TBA
Silver	TBA	TBA	TBA
Bronze	Wiles, Moltzan	USA	2:21.91
4th Place	Johnson, Shiffrin	USA	2:21.97

“Coming to the finish, I wasn’t comfortable with my runs in the slalom.”

— Mikaela Shiffrin, after the race

Shiffrin’s Olympic Drought Deepens in Unexpected Loss

Mikaela Shiffrin‘s historic Olympic struggles continue into 2026. After winning three medals across her first two Winter Games, she failed to medal in all six races at Beijing 2022. Milan-Cortina promised redemption, but Tuesday’s result extends her frustrating medal-less streak.

The American skiing icon remains determined to break through in upcoming events. Shiffrin has limited her race program to core events including slalom, giant slalom, and the team combined, following serious injuries. Her recovery from past crashes influences her competitive approach at these Games.

What Does This Loss Mean for Shiffrin’s Olympic Legacy?

Shiffrin still has multiple opportunities to medal at Milan-Cortina 2026. Her remaining events include slalom and giant slalom competitions, where she traditionally dominates. Athletic experts expect the legend to rebound in her specialties.

Yet Tuesday’s outcome raises questions about pressure and consistency. Can Shiffrin manage expectations in her core disciplines? The answer could define her Milan-Cortina legacy and shape narratives around one of skiing’s greatest athletes for years ahead.

Sources

• Olympics.com – Official coverage of women’s team combined event and medal results
• USA Today – Team USA performance analysis and Shiffrin-Johnson race details
• NBC Sports – Austrian victory and full race bracket analysis