Mikaela Shiffrin has defeated her Olympic drought and finally brought home the gold medal by giving a performance in the women’s ski slalom event worthy of the top spot on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The veteran in alpine skiing has made history for her total number of Olympic wins with her first place finish bringing her total career gold medal count to three.
It has been six years since Shiffrin last won an Olympic medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics when she scored silver in the combined slalom event. Now she has moved up a spot on the podium for a drought-ending gold. Here’s what to know about Mikaela Shiffrin winning a gold medal in Italy.
Mikaela Shiffrin Celebrated Her Long-Awaited Win With an Emotional Reaction
GettyMikaela Shiffrin of Team USA wins gold medal in ski slalom at 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina
Going into her final run in the slalom competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin had experienced eight Olympic event appearances without winning a medal. Her third run in the slalom was her final attempt at the Milan-Cortina Olympic games to make it onto the podium. Her Olympic drought made her gold medal win on February 18, 2026 all the more emotional for the veteran skier as she celebrated the realization of her win with tears and then pumping her fists into the air in a display of long-awaited and well-deserved victory for the American.
Shiffrin’s win marks her first Olympic medal since her silver in the alpine combined event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, and her first gold medal since winning the giant slalom competition just a few days prior to her second place finish in 2018. Eight years later, it seemed like Shiffrin wouldn’t win another Olympic medal – but she has now proven that she’s still one of the great Winter Olympians on the ski slopes.
Shiffrin is an Olympic Veteran With a Decorated Career on the Ski Slopes
USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates after winning the women’s slalom event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images)
Winning gold in slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics brings Mikaela Shiffrin’s total career Olympic medal count to a grand total of four with three of those now gold. Previously, Shiffrin won gold in the slalom at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, in addition to her two medals from the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Mikaela Shiffrin has just become tied for second when it comes to having the most gold medals amongst her fellow Team USA Winter Olympians. She is now tied alongside famed former Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and current Team USA bobsledder Kaillie Humphries with three gold medals for each decorated athlete. All three Olympic legends are currently attending the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, with Shaun White participating as a correspondent while both Shiffrin and Humphries are bringing home glory for Team USA.
Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Shocking Gold Medal, Ends Olympic Drought