Mikaela Shiffrin's Olympic struggles continued on Tuesday as she finished fourth in the new team combined event at the Milan Cortina Games. Partnering with Breezy Johnson, who led the downhill leg, Shiffrin failed to secure a medal, extending her run of seven straight Olympic races without a podium finish.
Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin admitted she struggled to find her rhythm. 'I didn't quite find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed,' she said. 'I'm going to have to learn what to do, what to adjust in the short time we have before the other tech races.'
The American pair lost time at every checkpoint during Shiffrin's slalom run, crossing 0.31 seconds behind the leaders and 0.06 seconds adrift of the bronze medal won by compatriots Jaqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan. Johnson, who had earlier won gold in the individual downhill, embraced Shiffrin after the race, saying, 'I hope that she has fun and does her best.'
Shiffrin has now gone without an Olympic medal since taking two golds and a silver at her first two Games. She will have two more chances at the Milan Cortina Games, competing in the giant slalom and slalom events.
