Shiffrin Claims Slalom Gold; U.S. Men’s Hockey Wins Olympic OT Thriller

Wednesday’s events at the Milan Cortina Olympics featured remarkable performances, highlighted by Mikaela Shiffrin’s historic victory and an intense hockey match for Team USA. Shiffrin’s success and the men’s hockey team’s advancement mark pivotal moments in their Olympic journeys.

Mikaela Shiffrin Secures Slalom Gold

Mikaela Shiffrin capped her Olympic career with an extraordinary performance, winning the women’s slalom gold. She finished with a time of 1 minute, 39.10 seconds, defeating her nearest competitor by a stunning 1.50 seconds, the largest margin for any alpine skiing event this century. This victory makes her the first U.S. skier to achieve three golds, having previously secured gold in the giant slalom in 2018.

In her first run, Shiffrin established a leading margin of .82 seconds over Germany’s Lena Duerr, the largest opening lead recorded since 1960. At just 30 years old, Shiffrin becomes both the youngest and oldest skier to win Olympic slalom gold—her first honor came at 18 during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Switzerland and Sweden followed her onto the podium, taking home silver and bronze respectively.

U.S. Men’s Hockey Triumphs in Overtime

The U.S. men’s hockey team faced Sweden in a nail-biting quarterfinal that became a test of resolve. Dylan Larkin opened scoring for Team USA in the second period. However, Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad tied the game just before the end of regulation, forcing overtime.

Quinn Hughes secured victory with a decisive shot 3:27 into overtime, leading the U.S. to a 2-1 win. The U.S. will now face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday, setting the stage for a possible gold medal match on Sunday.

Other Notable Events

• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo: Norwegian skier earned his 10th Olympic gold in men’s cross-country team sprint with a time of 18 minutes, 28.98 seconds.
• Steve Dubois: Canadian speed skater won gold in the 500m, finishing in 40.85 seconds, edging Dutch skater Melle van ‘t Wout by just 0.06 seconds.

Looking Ahead

The Olympic spotlight remains on Shiffrin’s legacy and the U.S. hockey team’s upcoming semifinal match. As the Games continue, all eyes will be on performances that may further shape Olympic history.