SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — The US Ski Team finds itself enveloped in a veil of uncertainty as the countdown to the Winter Olympics begins. A remarkable performance at the world championships in Austria saw the women’s squad clinch medals in four out of five events, along with two fourth-place finishes. Notably, the women excelled in various disciplines, only narrowly missing out on a podium spot in the mixed team parallel event. Meanwhile, the men showcased their prowess with a commendable fourth-place finish in the new team combined race.
A standout moment came when Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful slalom skier in history, secured a fifth-place finish in the slalom event, closely followed by teammate Paula Moltzan in fourth. With Lindsey Vonn poised to make a competitive return at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 2026 after a nearly six-year hiatus, the US women’s team boasts multiple medal contenders in all disciplines. In 2026, the men will take on the challenging slopes of Bormio, where Ryan Cochran-Siegle has achieved significant career milestones.
Reflecting on the team’s recent achievements, Shiffrin expressed, “I don’t recall a time during my skiing career where we’ve had such strong depth. Witnessing this growth culminate at the world championships has been truly remarkable, and I anticipate this trend to continue over the coming years.”
The US team’s resurgence was evident at the previous Winter Games in Beijing, where Cochran-Siegle clinched the sole skiing medal for the Americans with a silver in super-G. Looking ahead, the team aims to build on this success, with a new generation of skiers ready to make their mark on the international stage.
The emergence of rising star Lauren Macuga, who secured a bronze in super-G, and Breezy Johnson’s sensational victory in the downhill event, followed by a gold in the team combined alongside Shiffrin, underscore the team’s depth and talent. Moltzan’s bronze in giant slalom further solidified the team’s impressive showing, while Cochran-Siegle and partner Ben Ritchie narrowly missed the podium in the combined event.
This resurgence in the US Ski Team harks back to the era of legends like Bode Miller, Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn, and Julia Mancuso, whose dominance on the slopes set a high standard for future generations.
Vonn, now 40 years old, commended the team’s achievements, particularly highlighting the exceptional performances of younger athletes like Macuga and Johnson. Looking ahead to the Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Vonn expressed optimism, stating, “I am truly excited about the potential of our team. The talent and potential we possess across all disciplines give me confidence that we will achieve remarkable feats together.”
As the team gears up for the upcoming challenges
