Shiffrin's Olympic Medal Drought Extends to Seven Races
Mikaela Shiffrin's quest for Olympic redemption has been delayed once again, as the American skiing superstar failed to secure a medal in the new team combined event at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. This marks her seventh consecutive race without an Olympic podium finish, a slump that began at the 2022 Beijing Games where she did not win a medal in any of her six events.
Team Combined Event Disappointment for the U.S.
In the team combined event on Tuesday, Shiffrin was given an ideal opportunity to break her dry spell after partner Breezy Johnson led the opening downhill leg. However, Shiffrin's performance in the slalom leg was lacklustre, finishing 15th and dropping the United States team to fourth place overall. This result extended her Olympic struggles, despite her status as the most successful World Cup racer of all time with a record 108 victories.
Austria's Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber claimed the gold medal, while Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles of the United States took bronze, outperforming their more high-profile teammates. Johnson, who had won the downhill event on Sunday, missed out on a second medal at these Games.
Klæbo Powers Towards Gold Medal Record
In contrast to Shiffrin's woes, Norwegian cross-country star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is on the brink of making Winter Olympics history. He secured his second consecutive gold medal at these Games by winning the men's sprint event, finishing a comfortable 0.8 seconds ahead of American Ben Ogden. This victory brings Klæbo's career Olympic gold tally to seven, placing him just one behind the all-time record shared by three retired Norwegian athletes: Marit Bjørgen, Bjørn Dæhlie, and Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
Klæbo, who already won the skiathlon on Sunday for his sixth gold, has the opportunity to equal the record in the 10 kilometres freestyle event scheduled for Friday. His dominance in cross-country skiing continues to bolster Norway's medal count, which now stands at six golds, three more than any other nation at this stage of the Games.
Other Notable Performances at the Winter Olympics
In other events, Swedish athletes swept the medals in the women's cross-country sprint final, with Linn Svahn edging out defending champion Jonna Sundling, and Maja Dahlqvist taking third. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was in attendance to witness the historic sweep.
Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn paid a poignant tribute to his late teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken after winning the men's 20-kilometre individual biathlon. As he crossed the finish line, Botn pointed to the sky in memory of Bakken, who was found dead in his hotel room in Italy in December.
Italian short track speedskater Arianna Fontana added to her legendary career by winning gold in the mixed team relay, bringing her total Olympic medal count to twelve. Fontana, who began her Olympic journey at age 15 in 2006, is already the most decorated short track speedskater of all time and has further opportunities to add to her tally in the 500 metres and 3,000 metre relay events.
