Mikaela Shiffrin's fourth Olympics begin with a sluggish slalom and a fourth-place finish

American alpine skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin and her teammate Breezy Johnson missed the podium in the debut of the alpine team combined event at the Winter Olympics after finishing in fourth place on Tuesday. Despite a commanding performance by Johnson in the initial downhill segment, Shiffrin’s uncharacteristic struggle during the final slalom portion prevented the duo from securing a medal. The disappointing result marks a continuation of a challenging Olympic cycle for Shiffrin, who entered the games as a heavy favorite but has struggled to find her rhythm across several technical and speed disciplines. The competition began with a burst of momentum for the United States as Breezy Johnson delivered a stellar performance in the downhill leg, placing the American team in a prime position to challenge for gold. As the baton passed to Shiffrin for the slalom—historically her strongest discipline—expectations were high that the most decorated alpine skier in history would lock in a podium spot. However, Shiffrin appeared uncharacteristically sluggish on the course, losing valuable time against top European competitors who capitalized on the icy conditions. This fourth-place finish deepens the narrative of an Olympic slump for Shiffrin, whose fourth appearance at the Winter Games has been defined by near-misses and unexpected exits rather than the dominance displayed in previous years and on the World Cup circuit. While the team combined event was designed to showcase versatility and collective strength, the outcome serves as a reminder of the narrow margins in elite skiing, where a fraction of a second can be the difference between a historic medal and a disappointing finish off the podium.