Shiffrin Proud After Fourth-Place Finish: Leads U.S. Surge in World Cup Opener
In the world of elite sports, a fourth-place finish rarely sparks a celebration. For most champions, anything less than the top spot on the podium can feel like a letdown. But for Mikaela Shiffrin, the winningest alpine skier in history, her fourth-place result in the season-opening giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, was more than just a good start. It was a personal victory.
It was, in her own words, a “monumental step.” For a superstar accustomed to shattering records: 101 World Cup wins and counting, this feeling of pure joy over a near-podium finish might seem out of place. But to understand the weight of this moment, you have to look back at the journey Shiffrin has been on. The road has been anything but smooth.
Shiffrin’s Long Road to Recovery
The mental and physical toll of recent seasons has been immense. It all began with a terrifying crash in a giant slalom back in November 2023. Then came another frightening crash in a downhill race in January, on the very course set for the 2026 Olympics. That fall left her with a deep puncture wound and severe damage to her oblique muscles.
The physical injuries were just one part of the battle. Shiffrin has been open about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from these incidents. The giant slalom, a discipline she once dominated with 22 wins, the most by any woman, suddenly became a source of fear. The confidence that had carried her to an Olympic gold medal in 2018 was shaken.
Last season was a testament to her struggle. In the three giant slaloms she competed in after her return, her results were uncharacteristically poor: a 25th-place finish and two races where she failed to score any points at all. This slump caused her to lose her coveted spot among the top-ranked skiers, forcing her to start with a later bib number—a significant disadvantage on a chewed-up, bumpy course.
A Return to Form in Sölden
Starting with bib 20 in Sölden, the odds were stacked against her. The course was dark, bumpy, and long, a perfect storm to test the resolve of any skier, let alone one fighting to rediscover her form. But Shiffrin didn’t just survive; she attacked. After her first run, she sat in sixth place. In the second, she climbed two more spots to finish fourth, her best GS result in nearly two years.
“It’s huge,” Shiffrin said, the relief and excitement palpable in her voice. “Every single part of today was such a monumental step.”The result wasn’t just about the points or the ranking. It was about proving to herself that she could once again trust her instincts and push her limits in a discipline that had become a mental hurdle.
It was about rekindling the fire that made her a champion in the first place. “It’s a boost of excitement to know that I can do good skiing, starting bib 20, I can climb up the ranks,” she explained. “It’s more like when I started racing on the World Cup. It was so exciting at that time, and it’s the same feeling right now.”
The Significance of Shiffrin’s Comeback
Her teammates recognized the gravity of the moment. Paula Moltzan, who had a phenomenal day herself, finishing second, spoke to the mental battle Shiffrin has faced. “She was a little bit scared of GS last season, and just to see her come back and put down an excellent result, it’s pretty awesome,” Moltzan said. “The mental game in ski racing is much bigger than anybody allows to see.”This fourth-place finish sends a clear message to the rest of the field: Mikaela Shiffrin is back.
While she acknowledged there’s still work to do to catch the top skiers like Austria’s Julia Scheib, who won the race, and her own teammate Moltzan, the foundation has been rebuilt. “I’m fourth and I’m like over the moon,” she beamed. “It’s a really, really good step, and I have improvements to make, still. So, it’s exciting to start the season.”
Final Thoughts
For an athlete who defines greatness, this race was a powerful reminder that a gold medal doesn’t always measure victory. Sometimes, it’s measured by the distance traveled to reach the starting gate. And on this day, Shiffrin’s journey was nothing short of monumental.
