The Winter Olympics saw Italy's Federica Brignone claim her second gold medal, triumphing in the women's giant slalom event. Meanwhile, American star Mikaela Shiffrin finished outside the podium, placing 11th and extending her streak of Olympic events without a medal. The results mark a significant moment for Brignone, who has now achieved two gold medals at the same Games, and underscore the ongoing challenges for Shiffrin in her Olympic pursuit.
Key Events and Timeline
The women's giant slalom competition, held at the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, unfolded with Federica Brignone demonstrating consistent performance. After a strong first run, she maintained her lead throughout the second, ultimately winning with a combined time of 2 minutes 13.50 seconds. This victory adds to her earlier gold in the super-G.
First Run: Brignone established a leading position.
Second Run: Brignone’s performance secured her victory.
Mikaela Shiffrin's Performance: Shiffrin completed the event in 11th place.
Performance Data and Outcomes
| Athlete | Country | Combined Time (min:sec) | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federica Brignone | Italy | 2:13.50 | 1st (Gold) |
| Sara Hector | Sweden | 2:14.12 | Tied 2nd (Silver) |
| Thea Louise Stjernesund | Norway | 2:14.12 | Tied 2nd (Silver) |
| Mikaela Shiffrin | USA | - | 11th |
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Note: The exact combined time for Mikaela Shiffrin is not consistently reported across all sources, but her placement at 11th is a recurring fact.
Federica Brignone's Ascent
Brignone's triumph in the giant slalom is notable for several reasons. At 35 years old, she is setting new benchmarks, having become the oldest female medalist in Alpine skiing history earlier in the Games with her super-G win. Her victory also represents a significant personal achievement, as she returned to competition only a month prior to the Games after sustaining a serious leg injury, including a torn ACL and multiple fractures, in April of the previous year.
Brignone's second gold medal at these Olympics.
She became the first Italian woman to win gold in two separate events at the same Olympics.
Her win comes less than a year after a severe leg injury.
She has broken her own record as the oldest female Olympic Alpine skiing gold medalist.
Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic Challenge
For Mikaela Shiffrin, the giant slalom result signifies the continuation of a challenging Olympic campaign. This 11th-place finish marks her eighth consecutive Olympic event without a medal, a streak dating back to the 2018 Winter Games. Despite a strong record in World Cup events leading up to the Olympics, her Olympic performances have not translated into podium finishes. Reports indicate Shiffrin has experienced physical and mental challenges, including vision difficulties described as "foggy" and a struggle with maintaining high speeds in giant slalom events.
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Shiffrin has now competed in eight straight Olympic events without winning a medal.
Her previous Olympic medal was in 2018.
Despite recent World Cup successes, her Olympic form in giant slalom has been inconsistent.
She has spoken about her relationship with giant slalom being a "work in progress."
Rival Performances and Shared Silver
The giant slalom podium saw a close competition for the silver medals. Sweden's Sara Hector and Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund both recorded identical times, resulting in a tie for second place and shared silver medals. Their performances placed them 0.62 seconds behind Brignone's winning time.
Expert Perspectives
While direct expert commentary on the specific race outcomes is limited in the provided data, the consistent reporting on Brignone's comeback from injury and Shiffrin's ongoing medal drought offers a narrative arc. The contrast between Brignone's resilience and Shiffrin's current Olympic struggles highlights the unpredictable nature of elite sports performance and the specific pressures of the Olympic stage.
Conclusion and Implications
The women's giant slalom at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has concluded with Federica Brignone as the gold medalist and Mikaela Shiffrin in 11th place. Brignone's performance underscores her remarkable recovery and enduring skill, solidifying her status as a top competitor. For Shiffrin, the result intensifies the focus on her remaining events, particularly the slalom, as her quest for an Olympic medal continues. The shared silver medals between Hector and Stjernesund demonstrate the tight competition at the elite level of Alpine skiing.
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Federica Brignone's success at these Games is significant, marked by two gold medals and a personal triumph over injury.
Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic medal drought now extends to eight events, with the slalom race remaining her next opportunity to medal.
The event showcased strong performances from European skiers, with Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund sharing the silver.
Sources Used:
The New York Times (The Athletic): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7047888/2026/02/15/federica-brignone-winter-olympics-giant-slalom-second-gold/ - Provides details on Brignone's win and Shiffrin's placement.
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story//id/47937239/federica-brignone-wins-olympic-giant-slalom-mikaela-shiffrin-11th - Details Brignone's lead and Shiffrin's Olympic medal streak.
RFI: https://www.rfi.fr/en/olympic-games/20260215-brignone-claims-second-olympic-gold-shiffrin-misses-podium - Confirms Brignone's second gold and Shiffrin's missed podium.
Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2026-02-15/winter-olympics-mikaela-shiffrin-finishes-outside-top-10-in-giant-slalom - Focuses on Shiffrin's continued Olympic medal drought.
TNT Sports: https://www.tntsports.co.uk/alpine-skiing/olympic-games-milano-cortina-2026/2026/winter-olympics-mikaela-shiffrin-disappoints-again-as-brignone-takes-another-gold-for-italy-in-the-giant-slalom-at-milano-cortina-2026sto23271200/story.shtml - Highlights Brignone's second gold and Shiffrin's position relative to the leader.
Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/olympics/news/mikaela-shiffrin-giant-slalom-results-olympic-finals/80cca7c128651738f5016349 - Tracks live results for Shiffrin's run, confirming her 11th place finish.
NBC Olympics: https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/federica-brignone-pounces-early-lead-womens-giant-slalom - Details Brignone's lead and Shiffrin's placement.
The New York Times (The Athletic): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7047832/2026/02/15/mikaela-shiffrin-winter-olympics-giant-slalom-medal-drought/ - Discusses Shiffrin's struggles and relationship with giant slalom.
NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/live-blog/2026-winter-olympics-live-updates-mikaela-shiffrin-erin-jackson-rcna256607 - Provides live updates on Shiffrin's performance and Brignone's leading time in Run 1.
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