Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic Drought Continues as Slalom Struggles Weigh Heavy at Team Combined Event
In a disappointing turn of events, American superstar skier Mikaela Shiffrin extended her Olympic medal drought to seven straight races with a fourth-place finish in the team combined event at the Milan Cortina Games. The 29-year-old, who boasts a record 108 World Cup victories, including 71 slalom wins – both records – has yet to recapture the form that made her a dominant force on the mountain.
The American team's performance was marked by inconsistency, as Shiffrin failed to find her comfort zone and crossed the finish line behind Austria's Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber, who took gold. The team combined event saw Breezy Johnson lead the downhill leg, but even her impressive run couldn't propel the Americans to the top step of the podium.
"I didn't quite find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed," Shiffrin admitted post-race, acknowledging the need to adjust and learn from the experience. "I want to be careful not to make excuses because it's not really an excuse... I've been so prepared for all the slaloms this year."
Shiffrin's struggles are a stark contrast to her past performances at the Olympics, where she won two golds and a silver in Beijing four years ago. This time around, however, the 29-year-old has failed to win a single medal in six races.
"It was nothing to report," Shiffrin radioed back to her teammate after the run, but it was anything but nothing for the Americans, who were left to watch as Austria's team celebrated their gold medal. The bronze medal went to Jaqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan, who edged out Shiffrin by a mere 0.06 seconds.
Shiffrin still has her individual events of giant slalom and slalom to come, but the pressure is mounting, and it's clear that she needs to regroup and refocus if she's to salvage what remains of her Olympic campaign. With only three events on the schedule in Milan Cortina, Shiffrin can't afford to waste any more time – she needs to find a winning edge, and fast.
In a disappointing turn of events, American superstar skier Mikaela Shiffrin extended her Olympic medal drought to seven straight races with a fourth-place finish in the team combined event at the Milan Cortina Games. The 29-year-old, who boasts a record 108 World Cup victories, including 71 slalom wins – both records – has yet to recapture the form that made her a dominant force on the mountain.
The American team's performance was marked by inconsistency, as Shiffrin failed to find her comfort zone and crossed the finish line behind Austria's Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber, who took gold. The team combined event saw Breezy Johnson lead the downhill leg, but even her impressive run couldn't propel the Americans to the top step of the podium.
"I didn't quite find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed," Shiffrin admitted post-race, acknowledging the need to adjust and learn from the experience. "I want to be careful not to make excuses because it's not really an excuse... I've been so prepared for all the slaloms this year."
Shiffrin's struggles are a stark contrast to her past performances at the Olympics, where she won two golds and a silver in Beijing four years ago. This time around, however, the 29-year-old has failed to win a single medal in six races.
"It was nothing to report," Shiffrin radioed back to her teammate after the run, but it was anything but nothing for the Americans, who were left to watch as Austria's team celebrated their gold medal. The bronze medal went to Jaqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan, who edged out Shiffrin by a mere 0.06 seconds.
Shiffrin still has her individual events of giant slalom and slalom to come, but the pressure is mounting, and it's clear that she needs to regroup and refocus if she's to salvage what remains of her Olympic campaign. With only three events on the schedule in Milan Cortina, Shiffrin can't afford to waste any more time – she needs to find a winning edge, and fast.
She's got 108 World Cup wins and still can't get that gold medal at the Olympics 
What's up with her? The American team needs to step up their game ASAP! Breezy Johnson did do well in the downhill leg tho 
But it's just not enough for Shiffrin right now... she needs to take a chill pill and focus on gettin that edge back 
This is gettin kinda serious though, with only 3 events left 
Time to get her act together or else she'll be goin home empty-handed 
. She's been on fire for years but seems to be struggling with her form in Milan Cortina. It's like she's lost that confidence she had before, you know? She needs to shake off this feeling of being uncertain and find that winning edge again 
. The Americans were looking up to her to bring home some medals but now it's like they're wondering if they can count on her at all 
. I mean, we all love watching Mikaela ski, she's an inspiration and a legend in the sport, but right now she needs to step it up if she wants to win that Olympic medal 
.
I feel bad for Mikaela Shiffrin, she's been on fire before and it's tough to see her struggling like this. 7 straight races without a medal is crazy! 
She needs to get back into the zone ASAP or risk missing out on another Olympic medal chance. What's going on with her training? Is everything okay? 
I'm rooting for her still, but it's getting harder not to worry 
She was crushing it 4 years ago at the Olympics, but now she's all over the place. The team combined event is a huge deal, and to come up short like that? That's gotta be tough for her (and her teammates 
). But you know what's even tougher? The pressure to perform on the biggest stage. I'm rooting for her! 
. That Austrian team seems way too perfect, don't they? It's like they're gettin' some kinda special help or somethin'. And what's up with Shiffrin's radio convo with her teammate? Was that just a scripted message or somethin'? 