Mikaela Shiffrin Announces Plans to Compete in Four Events at 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics

Mikaela Shiffrin announced today that she plans to compete in four alpine skiing events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, setting the stage for what could be the most ambitious Olympic campaign of her already legendary career. The 30-year-old American skiing icon confirmed she will race in the slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and downhill events, aiming to add to her impressive collection of two Olympic gold medals and 98 World Cup victories.

Shiffrin's decision to expand her Olympic program represents a significant evolution from her previous Games appearances, where she focused primarily on the technical disciplines of slalom and giant slalom. The two-time Olympic champion has spent considerable time over the past two seasons developing her skills in the speed events, working with coaches to refine her technique on the steep, high-speed courses that define downhill and super-G racing. "I've always been motivated by challenges, and racing four events in Milano-Cortina feels like the perfect culmination of everything I've worked toward," Shiffrin said during a press conference in Aspen.

The announcement comes at an opportune time for Shiffrin, who has been in dominant form throughout the 2026 World Cup season with 12 victories across all disciplines. Her recent success in speed events, including back-to-back downhill wins in St. Anton and Cortina d'Ampezzo, has demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level in all aspects of alpine skiing. The Vermont native's technical precision, which made her untouchable in slalom and giant slalom, has translated remarkably well to the speed disciplines where split-second decisions and perfect line choice are crucial.

Olympic observers and skiing experts have praised Shiffrin's decision while acknowledging the significant physical and mental demands of competing in four events over a condensed Olympic schedule. The proximity of the Milano-Cortina venues will help minimize travel between events, but the challenge of maintaining peak performance across technical and speed disciplines remains formidable. "Mikaela has always been exceptional at managing her energy and focus during big competitions," said former U.S. Ski Team coach Sasha Rearick. "If anyone can handle this schedule, it's her."

The 2026 Winter Olympics, set to begin on February 6th in Milano-Cortina, will mark Shiffrin's fourth Olympic appearance and potentially her final opportunity to compete on home snow in Europe, where she has achieved most of her career success. The Italian Alps venues hold special significance for Shiffrin, as Cortina d'Ampezzo is where she claimed several early career victories that established her as a rising star in international skiing. Her familiarity with the courses and conditions could provide a crucial advantage in her quest for Olympic gold.

Shiffrin's Olympic schedule will begin with the giant slalom on February 13th, followed by the slalom on February 15th, super-G on February 17th, and downhill on February 19th. The compressed timeline will test not only her physical conditioning but also her ability to transition between the different technical demands of each discipline. For American skiing fans, Shiffrin's four-event campaign represents the best opportunity for multiple medals since the heyday of Lindsey Vonn, with many experts believing she has legitimate medal chances in all four events based on her current form and historical success on Italian snow.