Mikaela Shiffrin to Compete in Only Three Events at Milan-Cortina Olympics

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Mikaela Shiffrin, American alpine skiing star, will reportedly compete in only three events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, significantly reducing her schedule compared to previous Games as she looks to maximize her medal chances and overcome her recent injury history.

The accomplished American skier will compete only in her signature events, slalom and giant slalom, plus the team combined—which, for her, is one lap of slalom, U.S. head coach Paul Kristofic told the Associated Press on Thursday.

This more streamlined program comes after two serious accidents since 2022 and follows a challenging performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he competed in six events but did not medal.

Shiffrin competed in one World Cup super-G event this season in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in December and performed well until she failed to clear the final gate.

She was pleased with her performance, but then did not compete in any other super-G events.

"That [decision] was made quite a while ago, to focus on slalom and GS," Kristofic said.

Shiffrin won the super-G World Cup in Cortina in 2019 and has since won medals in various colors at world championships, including bronze at the 2021 edition in Cortina.

However, Shiffrin crashed in the downhill event in Cortina in January 2024 and then re-injured herself after a serious fall in the giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last season.

Kristofic believes that Shiffrin's more focused approach to slalom and giant slalom will help her "positively."

Mikaela Shiffrin is one of the most successful alpine skiers in history.

Born on March 13, 1995, in Vail, Colorado, she burst onto the World Cup circuit as a teenager and quickly became known for her technical brilliance and consistency, particularly in slalom and giant slalom.

Throughout her career, Shiffrin has won a record number of World Cup races, garnering dozens of victories across multiple disciplines and several World Cup overall championship titles.

At both the World Championships and the Olympic Games, she has consistently been a medal contender, combining exceptional technical skill with mental resilience under pressure.

In addition to pursuing an Olympic career, Shiffrin has also been a vocal advocate for athletes' mental health and well-being, frequently speaking out about the challenges of competing at the highest level.