Mikaela Shiffrin is on the verge of her final Olympic slalom challenge in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The women’s slalom event is her last opportunity to secure a medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Shiffrin, regarded as one of the greatest in Alpine skiing history, has not won an Olympic medal since 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Now 30 years old, she is looking to reclaim her glory on the slopes.
Mikaela Shiffrin: A Remarkable Career
Shiffrin has achieved an impressive career milestone, winning 108 World Cup races—more than any other skier in history. Among these victories, 71 have come in slalom, demonstrating her dominance in this discipline. Her podium finishes in slalom stand at 97 for 126 attempts, yielding a remarkable success rate of 76%. In her 15-year career, she has claimed the season-long slalom championship nine times.
Olympic Journey
- 2014: Won her first Olympic gold medal in Sochi at age 18.
- 2018: Finished just shy of a medal in Pyeongchang.
- 2022: Struggled in Beijing, crashing multiple times and unable to perform at her best.
Despite past triumphs, recent performance at the Olympics has been less than stellar. In the Olympic combined event, Shiffrin finished 15th in slalom, her worst run of the season. A similar trend followed in the giant slalom, where she ranked 11th, her second-worst performance in that category.
Conditions and Challenges Ahead
The snow conditions in Cortina have raised concerns. The team combined slalom run saw sloppy snow, which is not ideal for Shiffrin, who excels on hard, dry snow. Cold temperatures are expected, ranging from 10 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit, which may affect the race conditions.
Preparing for the Final Slalom
To secure a medal in the final slalom, Shiffrin needs to channel her extraordinary skills. Historically, she’s shown up to 75% of the time at her best during races across various conditions. The upcoming event on the Olympia delle Tofane slope presents a critical moment for the ski champion.
As Shiffrin prepares for her last Olympic challenge, the sporting world watches closely. With her legacy already ensured, this event will mark an important chapter in her career, potentially leading to another cherished medal.
