2026 Winter Olympics: Alpine skiing schedule spotlight — Shiffrin’s giant slalom at 4:00 a.m. ET
On the second Sunday of the Milan Cortina Games, alpine skiing fans should set an early alarm. The marquee technical race for the day — the women's giant slalom — is scheduled to start at 4: 00 a. m. ET, and all eyes will be on Mikaela Shiffrin as she seeks a comeback podium amidst a packed day for Team USA.
Schedule snapshot (times in Eastern Time)
The headline alpine moment for the day is the women's giant slalom, slated for a 4: 00 a. m. ET start. That race marks Shiffrin’s second Olympic attempt in the giant slalom since her gold in 2018 and follows a high-profile recovery arc after a serious crash in 2024 that left her with a puncture wound and lingering psychological effects.
While the giant slalom is the lone alpine event highlighted for this day, fans following the U. S. team should note the broader slate: a busy Sunday will also feature the women's 500m speedskating at 11: 03 a. m. ET, pairs figure skating at 1: 45 p. m. ET, and the U. S. men’s hockey matchup against Germany at 3: 10 p. m. ET. The packed schedule underscores how the team’s medal chances across disciplines will play out over the same calendar day.
What to watch in the giant slalom
This giant slalom carries extra narrative weight. Shiffrin is back on the hill in the race she won at the 2018 Olympics, and the event represents an important step in a personal and professional comeback. She endured a traumatic crash in 2024 that has left both physical scars and a battle with PTSD; returning to Olympic giant slalom competition is part of her recovery journey.
After the first run, Shiffrin sits seventh, a strong position that leaves her within striking distance of the podium. The two-run structure of the giant slalom means that margins can tighten quickly: a composed second run can vault a racer up the leaderboard, while a mistake can cost precious time. For Shiffrin, the day is as much about managing nerves and executing clean lines as it is about raw speed.
Beyond the personal storyline, this race will matter for national medal tallies and momentum. A podium for Shiffrin would be a major emotional boost for Team USA in a day already loaded with medal opportunities and key matchups in other sports.
Timing, context and the wider Team USA day
With the giant slalom kicking off at 4: 00 a. m. ET, organizers have scheduled a long day ahead for U. S. viewers and fans tracking multiple events. Speedskater Erin Jackson will be attempting to defend her Olympic title in the women's 500m later in the morning, while U. S. pairs in figure skating will take the ice in the early afternoon after clutch performances helped secure a team gold earlier in the Games. The men's hockey team will also be in action that afternoon, ensuring continuous storylines for American audiences.
The compressed nature of the schedule means alpine supporters may be balancing early live coverage of Shiffrin's second run with updates from the rink and the oval as the day progresses. For athletes, coaches and spectators, that mix of early-morning alpine drama followed by marquee events across figure skating, speedskating and hockey creates one of the most consequential days for Team USA so far in Milan Cortina.
Expect pre-race focus on course conditions, mental readiness and the tactical approach to a second run that could reshape medal positions. For Shiffrin and her rivals, the giant slalom at 4: 00 a. m. ET is far more than a time slot — it is a moment that could define narratives for the remainder of these Games.
