Federica Brignone wins gold in home giant slalom, Team USA struggles

Mikaela Shiffrin finishes 11th as Cortina native Brignone claims victory on home snow

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In the women's giant slalom event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, local favorite Federica Brignone won gold, while American star Mikaela Shiffrin finished 11th. The competition was fierce, with multiple lead changes and ties for medals. Meanwhile, Herriman, Utah native Kaysha Love sits in 5th place after the first two runs of the women's monobob event.

Why it matters

The women's giant slalom was a highly anticipated event, with the home crowd cheering on Brignone. Shiffrin's struggles highlight the depth of talent in alpine skiing, as the American star was unable to medal. The monobob event is making its Olympic debut, providing an opportunity for lesser-known athletes like Love to shine on the global stage.

The details

Brignone, a Cortina native, powered through the final run to claim gold in front of the home crowd, while Shiffrin finished 11th despite feeling good on the course. In the monobob event, Love sits in 5th place after the first two runs, less than a second off the leader's pace.

  • The women's giant slalom took place on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The first two runs of the women's monobob event were held on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The final two runs of the women's monobob event will be held on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Federica Brignone

An Italian alpine skier who won gold in the women's giant slalom event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in her home town of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Mikaela Shiffrin

An American alpine skier and one of the top stars of the U.S. Olympic team, who finished 11th in the women's giant slalom event.

Kaysha Love

A bobsledder from Herriman, Utah who is competing in the women's monobob event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, currently sitting in 5th place after the first two runs.

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What they’re saying

“No matter how many times I've won in slalom, it only gets harder, more precise. The level of the competition gets higher, so I'll try to take that on. Today was a really good example of, I think for many racers, that mentality, and certainly from my side, so I'm proud of that.”

— Mikaela Shiffrin (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Shiffrin and the rest of Team USA will get one more chance in slalom on Wednesday, February 19, 2026. The final two runs of the women's monobob event will be held on Monday, February 17, 2026, determining the medal winners.

The takeaway

The women's giant slalom showcased the fierce competition and depth of talent in alpine skiing, with the home crowd cheering on Brignone's victory. While Shiffrin and Team USA struggled, the debut of the monobob event provided an opportunity for lesser-known athletes like Love to make their mark on the Olympic stage.