Biggest Upsets of the Milano Cortina Games: Where Favorites Fell
From Shiffrin losing on home snow to Canada's men's curling meltdown — the five moments that shocked the world.
MILANO CORTINA, Italy – The Olympics always produce surprises. Milano Cortina 2026 had more than its share. Here are the five biggest upsets.
1. WOMEN'S ALPINE COMBINED — GOGGIA BEATS SHIFFRIN
Mikaela Shiffrin, the greatest slalom skier in history, entered as the heavy favorite. But home hero Sofia Goggia — a downhill specialist with no major slalom wins — skied the race of her life, beating Shiffrin by 0.18 seconds. It was Goggia's first Olympic gold in a tech event.
2. MEN'S SNOWBOARD CROSS — NO AUSTRIA ON THE PODIUM
Austria had won every men's snowboard cross gold since 2006. In Milano Cortina, not a single Austrian reached the final. Gold went to Eliot Grondin (Canada), silver to Mick Dierdorff (USA), bronze to Liam Moffatt (AUS). Austria's best finish: 7th.
3. WOMEN'S 3000M SPEED SKATING — ITALIAN SUIT CONTROVERSY
Dutch defending champion Irene Schouten finished 4th — 0.3 seconds off bronze. Gold went to Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida, whose high-tech suit is now under protest. Schouten called the result "suspicious."
4. MEN'S CURLING — CANADA FAILS TO MAKE SEMIFINALS
For the first time since curling returned to the Olympics in 1998, Canada's men's team did not reach the semifinals. They lost to Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland, finishing 5th. Skip Brad Gushue called it "the worst week of my career."
5. WOMEN'S FIGURE SKATING — VALIEVA MISSES THE FINAL
Kamila Valieva, competing as a neutral athlete at just 19, was expected to challenge for gold. She fell on her triple axel in the short program, finished 13th, and did not qualify for the free skate. She left the ice in tears and did not speak to media.
HONORABLE MENTION
The U.S. men's hockey gold wasn't an upset by ranking — but winning in overtime after trailing twice, ending a 46-year drought, made every highlight reel.
Devin Mallonee
Devin Mallonee is a sports journalist and performance nutrition writer with over a decade of experience covering elite athletics, Olympic competitions, and the science of human performance. Devin Mallonee has followed competitive sports from the grassroots level all the way to the world stage, developing a deep understanding of what separates good athletes from great ones — and the role nutrition plays in that equation.
As the lead sports editor at Dad's Sports News, Devin Mallonee brings an athlete's perspective to every story. Having competed in endurance sports and strength training throughout his life, Devin Mallonee understands firsthand what it takes to push past physical limits — and how proper supplementation and recovery make that possible. His writing blends technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics in sports science engaging for everyday readers and serious competitors alike.
Devin Mallonee has covered major sporting events including international track and field championships, professional strength competitions, and endurance racing circuits across North America. His work has explored the cutting edge of sports nutrition — from emerging research on amino acid timing and creatine loading protocols to the real-world impact of adaptogens on athletic recovery. When Devin Mallonee isn't breaking down the latest competition results, he's testing and reviewing performance supplements to help athletes make informed decisions about what goes into their bodies.
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