Mikaela Shiffrin Misses Podium; USA Wins Bronze in Women’s Team Combined
The inaugural Olympic women’s Alpine team combined event concluded with the American team of Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan earning a bronze medal. The competition took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where Team USA competed strongly but faced unexpected challenges.
Mikaela Shiffrin Misses Podium in Team Combined Event
Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, who recently won gold at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, aimed to defend their title at the Olympics. However, they finished narrowly off the podium. The duo missed a medal by just six hundredths of a second.
Performance Overview
- Shiffrin recorded a slalom time of 45.38 seconds, placing her 15th overall.
- Johnson, who won the individual downhill gold medal earlier, had a strong start with 1:36.59 in the downhill leg.
- Wiles finished fourth in the downhill, clocking 1:37.04, while Moltzan placed sixth in the World Cup slalom standings.
This new team format pairs downhill and slalom racers, showcasing both speed and technical skills in Alpine skiing. Despite the challenges, Shiffrin expressed optimism after missing the podium in her previous six events at the Beijing Olympics.
Medal Finishers
- Gold: Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber (Austria) – Combined time of 2:21.66
- Silver: Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher (Germany) – Combined time of 2:21.71
- Bronze: Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan (USA) – A quarter of a second behind the silver medalists
The 2026 Winter Games mark the Olympic debut of this team combined format. According to Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Foundation, the event was a “spectacular success” and will likely continue in future competitions.
As Shiffrin now turns her attention to the remainder of the Olympic events, she remains one of the most decorated skiers in history with 108 World Cup victories to her name, the highest for any skier, male or female.
Stay tuned to Filmogaz.com for more updates on the Olympic coverage and the performance of Team USA in Alpine skiing.
