Story perspectives

Mikaela Shiffrin Eyes Gold in Final Olympic Slalom

2/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mikaela Shiffrin is preparing for her final Olympic slalom race in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, pursuing her first Olympic medal in eight years.
After finishing 15th in the women's combined, she gained renewed confidence from her 11th-place finish in the giant slalom.
She remains the favorite for gold, with 71 career slalom wins.
Shiffrin acknowledges the pressure and plans a fresh, focused mindset to overcome past disappointments and trust her abilities.

History

Historical Context

The 1936 Winter Olympics, held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, from February 6-16, featured 646 athletes from 28 nations, marking a significant expansion in winter sports. Sonja Henie won her third consecutive gold medal in figure skating, while Norway topped the medal count with 15 medals. These Games set the stage for the evolving landscape of winter sports amid the political tensions of the era.

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Story summary

Mikaela Shiffrin is preparing for her final Olympic slalom race in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, pursuing her first Olympic medal in eight years.
After finishing 15th in the women's combined, she gained renewed confidence from her 11th-place finish in the giant slalom.
She remains the favorite for gold, with 71 career slalom wins.
Shiffrin acknowledges the pressure and plans a fresh, focused mindset to overcome past disappointments and trust her abilities.

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