Mikaela Shiffrin's tense slalom run leads to a 'miracle' for her U.S. teammates
The Olympic Games are a stage where multiple narratives intertwine, unfolding across hours, minutes, and even seconds. On Tuesday morning at the Milan Cortina Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the women's Alpine combined event took center stage. This unique competition combines downhill and slalom racing, where teammates' times are added, creating a team game from an individual sport. The pressure of supporting a friend's Olympic dream adds an extra layer of tension, as exemplified by American Breezy Johnson's words, 'Holding somebody else's [Olympic dream] in your hand, and trying to ski fast with it, is a lot of pressure.'
Johnson, who had won a gold medal in the downhill event just 48 hours prior, set a strong pace in the morning, finishing first among 28 starters. Her time of 0.06 seconds ahead of Ariane Raedler of Austria was a testament to her resilience, despite the potential for a letdown and the fatigue of post-celebration blues. Johnson's performance positioned her and her teammate, Mikaela Shiffrin, for potential glory.
Shiffrin, a close friend of Johnson and the best slalom racer in history, was set to partner with Johnson in the slalom portion of the event. The scenario unfolded as a potential double gold opportunity for Johnson and a chance for Shiffrin to secure her third Olympic medal (her first since the giant slalom in PyeongChang in 2018). This would also mark a significant shift from her 2022 Games, where she failed to complete the slalom, combined slalom, and giant slalom events, leaving Beijing without any medals.
Adding to the intrigue, American Jackie Wiles, who finished fourth in the downhill, skied into fourth place behind Johnson in the combined downhill, putting her in contention for her first Olympic medal. Her partner, Paula Moltzan, also sought her first medal, having finished fourth at the World Championships the previous year with teammate Lauren Macuga, who is currently out with a knee injury.
The afternoon slalom saw German star Emma Aicher take the lead, with Moltzan in second place. However, Moltzan was later bumped to third by Austria's Katharina Huber, who partnered with downhiller Raedler. Shiffrin, starting with a 0.06-second advantage from Johnson's downhill, faced a challenging task.
Despite her technical proficiency, Shiffrin's slalom run was marked by tension and a loss of time, resulting in a 15th-place finish. This performance was a stark contrast to her dominance in World Cup races, where she has won seven of eight slalom races this season. The last time Shiffrin finished as low as 15th in a World Cup slalom was in 2012, a remarkable 12 years ago.
Shiffrin acknowledged the pressure and her struggle to find a comfortable rhythm, stating, 'I didn't find a comfort level that allowed me to produce full speed. I need to learn how to adjust in the short time we have before the other tech races.' Her awareness of the Olympic cloud hanging over her head is a testament to her professionalism.
Despite the setback, Shiffrin's generosity and respect for her teammates shone through. She praised Johnson's downhill performance, expressing inspiration from her friend's gold medal and media commitments. Moltzan, who trains and competes with Shiffrin, praised her grace and kindness, highlighting the difficulty of being a gracious winner and loser.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin faces two more races: the giant slalom, where she has recently returned to the podium, and the slalom, where she has been largely unbeatable. The challenge lies in reconciling her recent Olympic performances with her established legacy, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.
