Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic Podium Wait Extends After Alpine Combined Fourth Place
The highly anticipated return of Mikaela Shiffrin to the Olympic podium did not materialise on Tuesday, as the American skiing superstar finished fourth in the Alpine combined event at the 2026 Winter Games in Livigno. This result prolongs her medal drought, which has persisted since her last Olympic success in Pyeongchang eight years ago.
High Expectations Dashed in Team Event
Shiffrin, alongside reigning world champion teammate Breezy Johnson, entered the competition as overwhelming favourites for gold. Johnson had already secured Olympic downhill victory on Sunday and was pursuing a remarkable 'double double', having claimed both downhill and combined world titles in 2025. Her dominant downhill run of 1:35.59 positioned Shiffrin perfectly for the slalom leg, setting the stage for a potential gold medal finish.
However, Shiffrin's performance on the Olympia delle Tofane piste lacked her customary brilliance. As the final skier in the slalom section, she failed to deliver the decisive run required, finishing 0.31 seconds behind the winning time. This marked her seventh consecutive Olympic event without a podium finish, a stark contrast to her unparalleled World Cup record of 108 victories.
Podium Surprises and Strategic Decisions
The competition saw unexpected outcomes, with Austria's second team of Ariane Raedler and Katharine Huber clinching gold with a combined time of 2:21.66. Germany's Emma Aicher, who had narrowly missed gold in Sunday's downhill by four-hundredths of a second, opted for the slalom leg today and secured a second silver medal alongside Kira Weidle-Winkelmann.
In a twist of fate, the American 'B team' of Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan edged out Shiffrin and Johnson for bronze by a mere eight-hundredths of a second. This added to the disappointment for the favoured pairing, who had been expected to dominate the event.
Historical Context and Psychological Factors
Shiffrin's Olympic struggles stand in sharp relief to her World Cup dominance. This season alone, she has won seven of eight World Cup events in the discipline and already secured the crystal globe. Yet, the 30-year-old has never replicated this form at the Olympic level, enduring heartbreak in Beijing where she failed to medal in any of her six events.
Her emotional reaction after those Games - "I just feel like a joke" - hinted at the psychological burden she carries into Olympic competitions. While Tuesday's performance was technically clean without major errors, it lacked the attacking flair and finesse that characterises Shiffrin at her peak. The spectre of past disappointments may have influenced her approach on the challenging Livigno course.
Future Opportunities for Redemption
Shiffrin will have two more chances to end her Olympic medal drought in the coming days. She competes next Sunday in the giant slalom, followed by her signature event, the slalom. These races represent crucial opportunities to conquer the demons that have haunted her Olympic campaigns and finally translate her World Cup supremacy to the Games' biggest stage.
The American's quest for Olympic redemption continues, with the skiing world watching to see if she can overcome the psychological barriers that have prevented her from adding Olympic medals to her already legendary career achievements.
