CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — In an exciting twist at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the American duo of Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan clinched the bronze in the first-ever women’s Alpine team combined event. They narrowly edged out favorites Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin, who missed the podium by just six hundredths of a second.
This unique event features two skiers. One tackles the downhill, while the other takes on the slalom. This format blends speed and technical skill, showcasing the versatility of Alpine skiing.
Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist and top-ranked slalom skier, came into this Olympics with high hopes. She had won seven World Cup slalom races this season and was seen as a top contender. However, she finished only 15th in the slalom leg. Shiffrin’s disappointing result adds to her challenges after she failed to medal in six events during the Beijing Olympics.
Meanwhile, Wiles and Moltzan celebrated their first Olympic medals. For Wiles, it was a well-deserved moment of joy after narrowly missing out on a medal in her individual downhill race earlier in the week.
The gold medal went to Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber, who finished with a combined time of 2:21.66. Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher took silver, clocking in at 2:21.71. Wiles and Moltzan were just a quarter of a second behind.
The new team combined format replaces the individual combined event. It reflects how skiing disciplines have specialized, making it rare to find athletes excelling in both downhill and slalom. Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), noted, “We had slalom skiers that looked like Bambi on ice in the downhill track and downhillers who needed a compass to get through the slalom.”
With this Olympic debut, the team format was met with excitement. Eliasch called the event a “spectacular success,” emphasizing that it combines the best athletes, the best format, and the best sport, ensuring it will be a staple in future competitions.
This year’s Olympics are not just about medals but also about breaking barriers. As technology and training methods evolve, athletes are becoming more specialized. The debut of this new event is a reflection of such shifts in the sport.
Stay tuned as athletes like Shiffrin aim for redemption in future competitions, bringing fresh hopes to their fans and the sport.
Source link
