Mikaela Shiffrin's Final Olympics: Two Medals, One Emotional Farewell
The greatest alpine skier of all time bows out of her fifth and final Games with a silver and bronze — and a legacy carved in snow.
MILANO CORTINA, Italy – She skied her last Olympic race on a sunny Saturday afternoon, the Italian Alps glowing behind her. When she crossed the finish line for the final time, Mikaela Shiffrin dropped to her knees and let the tears come.
Shiffrin, the most successful alpine skier in World Cup history, announced before these Games that this would be her final Olympics. She leaves with two medals and a legacy that will outlast the mountains themselves.
RESULTS
Women's combined (downhill + slalom) — Silver — 0.18 seconds behind gold medalist Sofia Goggia (ITA)
Women's giant slalom — 5th — Missed podium by 0.11 seconds
Women's slalom — 4th — A costly straddle in the second run
Mixed team parallel — Bronze — USA defeated Sweden in the small final
"Two medals at my last Olympics — I would have signed up for that a year ago," Shiffrin said, her voice breaking. "But coming this close to gold… it stings. I won't pretend it doesn't."
THE COMBINED THAT ALMOST WAS
The women's combined was Shiffrin's best shot at a final Olympic gold. After the downhill, she sat 4th, 0.42 seconds behind leader Goggia. Then came slalom — her specialty. She gained 0.64 seconds on the field. But Goggia, a downhill specialist who had never won a major slalom, somehow held on. The Italian crossed 0.18 seconds ahead.
"Sofia skied the race of her life," Shiffrin said. "That's sport. That's the Olympics. You don't always get the fairytale ending."
THE FAREWELL
After the team parallel bronze, Shiffrin skied a victory lap alone, carrying an American flag, stopping at every section of the stands. Some fans held signs reading "Thank you Mikaela." A group of Italian children held a banner: "You made us love skiing."
She has 95 World Cup wins — more than any skier in history, male or female. Five Olympic medals across four Games (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).
"Skiing gave me everything," she said. "I want other kids to have that chance."
As she disappeared into the tunnel for the last time as an Olympian, the mountains stood silent behind her. No fairytale gold. But a legacy no one will forget.
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.
A firm believer that great performance starts in the kitchen — and the supplement cabinet — Devin Mallonee founded the Dad's Sports News platform to bridge the gap between elite sports coverage and practical nutrition guidance for everyday athletes. His philosophy is simple: whether you're training for your first 5K or competing on an international stage, the fundamentals of performance nutrition are the same, and everyone deserves access to accurate, science-backed information.
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