CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — In a stunning turn of events at the Milan Cortina Games, Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber of Austria clinched gold in the newly introduced team combined skiing event. Their victory was made possible in part by an unexpected performance from American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin, who finished fourth after faltering in the slalom leg.
This triumph holds significant weight, as it marks an impressive achievement for Raedler and Huber, who had yet to capture a World Cup victory prior to their Olympic success. The event underscores the unpredictability of competitive skiing, where past accolades do not guarantee future wins.
Key Developments
- Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber of Austria won gold in the team combined event at the Milan Cortina Games.
- Mikaela Shiffrin, with a record number of World Cup victories, finished fourth in the event after a strong start.
- Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher of Germany secured the silver medal, while Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles from the U.S. took home bronze.
- Shiffrin has now gone seven consecutive Olympic races without winning a medal.
Full Report
A Surprising Outcome
Despite dominating the World Cup circuit, Shiffrin struggled in this Olympic outing. She entered the slalom leg trailing her teammate Breezy Johnson, who had previously shown promise in the downhill portion. Unfortunately, Shiffrin’s performance was inconsistent, resulting in a final run that saw her trailing by 0.31 seconds and missing out on a medal by just 0.06 seconds.
Reactions and Reflections
Following her performance, Shiffrin embraced Johnson, who had won gold in the individual downhill, marking a bittersweet moment for the American team. Huber expressed her surprise at the outcome, remarking, “For me, it was sure that Mikaela could do it. In the end, it was really a surprise gold medal for us.”
Weidle-Winkelmann emphasized the uncertainties inherent in slalom racing, noting, “Usually, Mikaela is the best slalom skier, and we expected her to be super good in this slalom today, too. But this is also slalom. You never know.”
While Raedler secured a commendable second in the downhill, Huber delivered the tenth-fastest time in the slalom segment. Moltzan and Wiles both celebrated their first Olympic medals after strong finishes in their respective runs.
Context & Previous Events
Shiffrin, who has set records in World Cup skiing, including 108 victories—71 of them in slalom—has faced a tough Olympic run recently. She earned two gold medals and a silver in her first appearances but failed to secure any medals in her six competitions during the Beijing Olympics four years ago. With upcoming events in giant slalom and slalom, Shiffrin still has opportunities to add to her Olympic legacy.
