Mikaela Shiffrin finished on the podium in a World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday, marking the first time she accomplished that feat since January 2024.
According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Shiffrin came in third at the event in Špindlerův Mlýn, Czechia, finishing behind the winner in Sweden’s Sara Hector, and fellow American Paula Moltzan, who came in second.
Shiffrin was 0.23 seconds behind Hector and 0.18 seconds behind Moltzan in her best giant slalom performance in two years.
The 30-year-old Shiffrin’s specialty has always been slalom, but she was once in the conversation as the best giant slalom skier in the world as well.
Shiffrin has won 22 World Cup giant slalom races, plus she won gold in the giant slalom at the 2018 Winter Olympics, gold in giant slalom at the 2023 World Championships, and silver in that discipline at the 2017 and 2021 World Championships.
Her 107 career World Cup race wins are the most in history by a woman or man, and she also holds the all-time women’s World Cup record in slalom wins (70) and giant slalom wins (22).
Each of Shiffrin’s past 15 wins have come in slalom with her last giant slalom win occurring in December 2023.
Shiffrin is first in both the slalom and overall World Cup standings so far this season by virtue of her six slalom wins. She is also fourth in the giant slalom standings.
Ravaged by injuries, Shiffrin finished 16th in the overall standings, fourth in slalom and 30th in giant slalom in 2025, but she is hitting her stride at the perfect time.
Entering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, next month, Shiffrin is the clear favorite in the women’s slalom, and she is establishing herself as a giant slalom medal contender as well.
In addition to Saturday’s third-place finish, Shiffrin has also finished fourth on three occasions in the giant slalom this season.
Shiffrin has three career Olympic medals to her credit, but she could potentially double that number with strong showings in the slalom, giant slalom and team events.
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