Mikaela Shiffrin's recent slalom struggles in Cortina d'Ampezzo have raised questions ahead of the Olympic slalom event, scheduled for Wednesday.
The American ski star, who has dominated the technical disciplines for over a decade, showed uncharacteristic weaknesses during the World Cup races in the Italian resort. After securing seven World Cup victories earlier this season, Shiffrin's performances in Cortina suggest she may be facing challenges at a critical moment in the Olympic calendar.
The timing of these difficulties has sparked concerns about a potential repeat of past Olympic disappointments. Shiffrin has previously struggled to replicate her World Cup dominance at the Games, and the recent results in Cortina have intensified speculation about her form heading into Milan-Cortina 2026.
Shiffrin's Season of Contrasts
This season began with Shiffrin demonstrating her usual technical brilliance, collecting victories across multiple disciplines. Her seven wins established her as one of the favourites for Olympic gold in both slalom and giant slalom. However, the World Cup races in Cortina revealed vulnerabilities that had been largely absent during her earlier triumphs.
In Alpine Skiing, consistency is paramount, particularly in slalom where margins are measured in hundredths of a second. Any loss of confidence or technical precision can prove costly against a deep field of competitors who have been closing the gap on Shiffrin in recent seasons.
Olympic Pressure and Past Challenges
Shiffrin's Olympic record has been a source of frustration despite her unparalleled World Cup success. While she claimed gold in slalom at PyeongChang 2018 and a silver in the combined, subsequent Games have not yielded the medal haul many expected from the most successful female ski racer in World Cup history.
The pressure of Olympic competition has historically affected even the most accomplished athletes differently than regular World Cup events. The four-year cycle, the global spotlight, and the single-chance nature of Olympic races create a unique psychological environment that can disrupt established patterns of performance.
Wednesday's Decisive Moment
All attention now turns to Wednesday's Olympic slalom, where Shiffrin will attempt to silence doubts and secure what would be a significant addition to her legacy. The course in Cortina, where she recently struggled, will test whether she can rediscover her technical sharpness when it matters most.
Her competitors will undoubtedly take confidence from her recent performances, sensing an opportunity to challenge the athlete who has set the standard in women's slalom for the past decade. Athletes like Petra Vlhova, Wendy Holdener, and a new generation of technical specialists will be eager to capitalize on any uncertainty in Shiffrin's skiing.
Whether Shiffrin can overcome her recent form dip and deliver under Olympic pressure will be one of the defining storylines of the Alpine skiing programme at Milan-Cortina 2026.
