Mikaela Shiffrin Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined – There are moments in sport that are defined not simply by times and medals, but by the tension in between — by small fractions of a second and the weight they bear on the hearts of competitors and fans alike. That was the story on Tuesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, where Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, two of the United States’ most celebrated alpine skiers, came inches away from Olympic glory in the debut of the women’s team combined event — only to finish fourth and off the podium by the slimmest of margins.
The New Stage at the Olympics
For the first time in Olympic history, the women’s team combined event was contested at the Games. It is a system that pairs a country’s top downhill skier — in this example Breezy Johnson — with its best slalom specialist — Mikaela Shiffrin — and combines their respective times to determine the overall standings. The idea marries the sheer speed and bravery of downhill with the precision and refinement of slalom, demanding both physical perfection and mental adaptation from racers.
At the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, Shiffrin and Johnson demonstrated they were the team to beat – winning world gold together in the sport’s first team combined event. Their camaraderie and complimentary talents made them the favorite heading into the Olympics.
Johnson’s Thunderous Start
On race day, the air was crisp and the mountain hushed with expectation. Breezy Johnson was first to take to the slope for Team USA, tackling the downhill segment with customary aggression and technique. Just days before, Johnson had captured gold in the individual women’s downhill – a remarkable performance and the first Olympic downhill gold for an American woman in 16 years. Mikaela Shiffri Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined
Standing at the crest of the course with that kind of energy and confidence, Johnson didn’t disappoint. She performed the fastest downhill leg of the whole race, cutting broad arcs with authority and propelling Team USA into a narrow lead heading into the slalom. It was the kind of performance that made headlines — and generated hopes that the U.S. duo could stand atop the Olympic podium once again.
Shiffrin’s Moment: A Story of High Stakes and Heavy Expectations
For Mikaela Shiffrin, this Olympics has been a test of resilience. Already considered as one of the best alpine skiers of all time — with more World Cup wins than any other woman in history — Shiffrin has suffered a run of sorrow at recent Olympic Games. She left Beijing in 2022 without a medal, a rare disappointment for an athlete of her caliber, and this summer had been about redemption. Her teaming with Johnson in the team combined offers a chance to alter that narrative — a chance to parlay their world championship excellence into Olympic hardware.
As Shiffrin approached her slalom run, the clock was ticking and expectations were apparent. But alpine skiing — especially at the Olympic level — can be brutal. What unfolded was a sharp contrast to Johnson’s perfection downhill. In the slalom, Shiffrin’s run was solid albeit somewhat off her best form, slower than many of her rivals. Though she cleared the line without falling or crashing, she ranked 15th in the slalom phase, wasting vital fractions of time. Those fractions, in the end, were all it took: Shiffrin and Johnson’s combined time put them only 0.06 seconds behind the bronze medalists – a heartbeat in racing terms — depriving them a spot on the podium. Mikaela Shiffri Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined
A Surprising Podium in Italy
With Shiffrin and Johnson’s aspirations shattered by that small margin, the medals went elsewhere — and in an unexpected shakeup. Ariane Rädler and Katharina Huber of Austria, neither of whom had previously won a World Cup race, seized the chance and claimed gold, exciting the home-region fans and writing their names into Olympic history. Germany followed for silver, and Americans Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan grabbed bronze, rescuing a podium for the U.S. team even as Shiffrin and Johnson watched from just outside the medals. Mikaela Shiffri Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined
Beyond the Results: The Human Side of Competition
In athletics, triumph is spectacular, but defeat — especially at the top level — is extremely human. For Shiffrin, that fourth-place finish continues a tough Olympic chapter. Despite decades of domination on the World Cup circuit and a resume that includes many Olympic medals from past Games, this Olympic race added to a trend of near-misses in Milan-Cortina — and provoked emotions far beyond numbers and standings.
That doesn’t imply the story ends in disappointment. Often in elite competition, setbacks become part of a greater story about resilience and improvement. Shiffrin’s journey has already involved comebacks from injury and mental barriers, and her capacity to shoulder expectations — both external and internal — is part of what has made her career so compelling to watch. Mikaela Shiffri Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined
For Breezy Johnson, meantime, the day was a reminder of what she has already accomplished — turning in a historic performance in the downhill and playing a vital part in providing her team the greatest possible start in the combined. Her presence on the slopes this season has been nothing short of inspirational.
Looking Ahead: More Races, More Chances
Olympic competition rarely unfolds exactly as planned. The debut of the team combined event was both exciting and unpredictable, demonstrating the depth of skill across nations and giving moments that will linger in memory. For Shiffrin and Johnson, the adventure at the 2026 Games isn’t over: individual races in giant slalom and slalom remain – each a fresh opportunity to win Olympic hardware. Their journey, full of high stakes and tiny margins, is a testament to why people love sport: it mimics life – sometimes exhilarating, sometimes painful, but always fascinating. Mikaela Shiffri Breezy Johnson don’t make podium in team combined
About the Author
