Shiffrin, Moltzan Struggle in Women's Giant Slalom First Run at Winter Olympics

Reigning champion Sara Hector leads after the opening run in Cortina, Italy

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Mikaela Shiffrin and fellow American Paula Moltzan had underwhelming performances in the first run of the women's giant slalom event at the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. Shiffrin sits in 7th place, 1.02 seconds behind leader Federica Brignone of Italy, while Moltzan is in 13th, 1.16 seconds off the pace. The women's giant slalom second run is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET.

Why it matters

Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where she failed to medal in any event. The giant slalom has been a challenging discipline for Shiffrin, who suffered a serious injury in a 2024 World Cup crash that nearly ended her career.

The details

Shiffrin began the Olympics with a 4th place finish in the team combined event. In the women's giant slalom, she trails leader Federica Brignone by over a second after the first run. Her teammate Paula Moltzan sits in 13th place, also over a second behind Brignone. The top three after the first run are Brignone, Lena Duerr of Germany, and Sofia Goggia of Italy.

  • The women's giant slalom second run will kick off at 7:30 a.m. ET on February 15, 2026.

The players

Mikaela Shiffrin

A two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated alpine skiers of her generation. Shiffrin is looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Paula Moltzan

An American skier competing in the women's giant slalom event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy.

Federica Brignone

The current leader after the first run of the women's giant slalom event. Brignone is the reigning Super-G champion.

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What’s next

The women's giant slalom second run is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET on February 15, 2026, where Shiffrin and Moltzan will look to improve their standings.

The takeaway

Shiffrin's struggles in the giant slalom continue, as the American star sits in 7th place after the first run, over a second behind the leader Federica Brignone. Teammate Paula Moltzan also had an underwhelming performance, sitting in 13th place. The second run will be crucial for both skiers as they aim to medal in the event.