American alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin delivered a powerful performance in the Women’s Slalom at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, finishing first after the opening run and moving into a strong position to win another Olympic medal.
Competing at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Shiffrin clocked a time of 47.13 seconds, putting her 0.82 seconds ahead of Germany’s Lena Duerr. In a discipline where races are often decided by tenths of a second, this margin is considered a commanding lead and one of the largest first-run advantages in Olympic slalom history.
Run 1 Results – Top Contenders
Shiffrin attacked the course with confidence and speed. Despite a small gate contact during her run, she maintained the fastest pace and built a significant gap over the field.
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikaela Shiffrin | USA | 47.13 |
| 2 | Lena Duerr | Germany | +0.82 |
| 3 | Cornelia Oehlund | Sweden | +1.00 |
| 4 | Camille Rast | Switzerland | +1.05 |
| 5 | Others (leading group) | — | 1+ seconds behind |
Several major contenders are already more than one second back, making the final run a difficult comeback challenge.
A gap of 0.82 seconds is huge in slalom racing, where margins are usually very small. If Shiffrin delivers a clean and controlled second run, she will be the clear favorite to take gold.
The event is especially important for the American star. After mixed results in other races at these Games, slalom remains her strongest discipline. She has dominated the event this season, winning most of the World Cup slalom races.
With more than 100 career World Cup victories, Shiffrin is already one of the most successful skiers in history, and another Olympic medal would further strengthen her legacy.
Final Run Schedule and Live Coverage
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Women’s Slalom – Run 2 |
| Venue | Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Cortina |
| Time (CET) | 1:30 PM |
| USA Time | 7:30 AM ET / 4:30 AM PT |
| Live Streaming | Peacock |
| TV Coverage | USA Network (select coverage), NBC highlights |
Fans in the United States can watch the final live on Peacock, with additional highlights during NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage.
Also see: What is AIN in Winter Olympics 2026
After the first run, Shiffrin said her goal was to push the limits while staying in control. With a large advantage, the strategy for the final will likely be a balanced and error-free performance rather than an all-out attack.
If she holds her position, it would mark her first Olympic medal since 2018 and a major comeback moment on the biggest stage.
All eyes are now on the final run, where Mikaela Shiffrin has a golden opportunity to turn her strong start into Olympic glory.
