Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin React as Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles Take Team Combined Bronze

by

Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin faced tough starts at the Winter Olympics 2026, but in very different ways. Vonn’s comeback ended heartbreakingly seconds into the downhill due to a serious crash and injury, while Shiffrin struggled in the team combined debut by finishing 15th in slalom. After Breezy Johnson posted the fastest downhill time, she and Shiffrin were in a strong medal-contending position.

With the Colorado-born athlete already dominating the slalom this season, winning seven races, a gold-medal finish seemed all but certain. Yet the team fell short at the final hurdle, thus extending Shiffrin’s Olympic medal drought since PyeongChang 2018.

USA Wins First Team Combined Medal as Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin Support

Despite the setbacks, both Shiffrin and Vonn have stayed upbeat, cheering on their U.S. teammates and setting a shining example of sportsmanship. Making its Olympic debut this year, the team combined event had a unique twist: Two skiers from the same country, one in downhill and the other in slalom, combine their scores to determine the final results.

While Shiffrin and Johnson came up just short, Team USA still had plenty to cheer about. Paula Moltzan and Jacqueline Wiles impressed with standout runs that landed the team on the podium with a bronze-medal win, showing that the USA’s depth can turn even a stumble into historic success.

ALSO READ: Breezy Johnson Gets Real on Grief, Defeat, and Triumph After Winter Olympic Gold, Sends Heartfelt Message to Lindsey Vonn

Reacting to their teammates’ podium finish, Vonn, who recently posted an update about needing multiple surgeries after her Olympic crash, shared her support through an Instagram story, writing: “Congrats you two!! @paulamoltzan🥹 @jacquelinewiles ❤️🥉🇺🇸.”

Screenshot of Vonn’s IG Story. Credits- lindseyvonn

The 108th World Cup winner, Shiffrin, congratulated both skiers by reposting a tweet from Team USA on X, writing: “Congrats, Jackie and Paula: you both deserve that so much!! 🤩🥳🥳.”

While the Minnesota-born alpine skiing star’s Olympic journey has ended in a devastating way, Shiffrin still has a chance to bounce back, with the giant slalom and slalom events yet to come. She will next compete in the GS on Sunday, February 15.

So far, Team USA has claimed five Olympic medals at Milano-Cortina, including two in alpine skiing: Johnson’s downhill gold and the historic team combined medal. That already surpasses the U.S. alpine haul from Beijing, which produced just one medal, a Super-G silver from Ryan Cochran-Siegle.

Leave a Comment