Petra Vlhová / Beijing 2022 / GEPA pictures
The final alpine race of the 2026 Milan / Cortina Olympic Winter Games is set.
A total of 95 athletes from 57 countries will take the start in the Women’s Slalom at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, closing the Olympic alpine program Wednesday — and for Mikaela Shiffrin, it is the last opportunity to leave these Games with gold.
In this article, you will find:
- ✔ How and when to watch the Women’s Olympic Slalom
- ✔ Full Women’s Olympic Slalom start list and daily program
- ✔ Bib numbers for the top contenders
- ✔ World Cup Slalom Top 10 standings
- ✔ Updated Women’s World Cup Slalom podium table (2025–26)
- ✔ USA and Canada Olympic roster breakdowns
- ✔ Medal favorites and key storylines
World Cup Slalom Top 10 (After Špindlerův Mlýn – 8/10)
- Bib 1 — 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi (ALB, 2006) — World Cup Rank: 5
- Bib 2 — 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA, 1994) — World Cup Rank: 6
- Bib 3 — 🇨🇭 Camille Rast (SUI, 1999) — World Cup Rank: 2
- Bib 4 — 🇦🇹 Katharina Truppe (AUT, 1996) — World Cup Rank: 4
- Bib 5 — 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener (SUI, 1993) — World Cup Rank: 3
- Bib 6 — 🇩🇪 Lena Dürr (GER, 1991) — World Cup Rank: 9
- Bib 7 — 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995) — World Cup Rank: 1
- Bib 9 — 🇸🇪 Sara Hector (SWE, 1992) — World Cup Rank: 10
- Bib 10 — 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003) — World Cup Rank: 8
- Bib 12 — 🇸🇪 Anna Swenn Larsson (SWE, 1991) — World Cup Rank: 7
History suggests the medalists will likely come from inside this group.
Shiffrin leads the standings with 780 points and has won seven of eight slaloms this season, finishing second in the only race she did not win. No athlete has shown more control over a discipline this winter.
Women’s World Cup Slalom – Podium Table (2025–26)
| Venue | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levi (FIN) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher |
| Gurgl (AUT) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi | 🇨🇭 Camille Rast |
| Copper Mountain (USA) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇩🇪 Lena Dürr | 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi |
| Courchevel (FRA) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇨🇭 Camille Rast | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher |
| Semmering (AUT) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇨🇭 Camille Rast | 🇦🇱 Lara Colturi |
| Kranjska Gora (SLO) | 🇨🇭 Camille Rast | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇨🇭 Wendy Holdener |
| Flachau (AUT) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan | 🇦🇹 Katharina Truppe |
| Špindlerův Mlýn (CZE) | 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin | 🇨🇭 Camille Rast | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher |
Shiffrin has stood on the podium in every slalom this season.
The Favorite: Bib 7 — Mikaela Shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin will start from bib 7, inside the elite first seed group.
She won Olympic slalom gold in Sochi in 2014. A victory Wednesday would give her a third Olympic gold medal and set the record for U.S. alpine skiers.
Her Olympic campaign in Milano Cortina has been solid but unfinished. She finished fourth in the Team Combined after struggling to find her top slalom speed. In giant slalom she skied aggressively and placed 11th — good, but outside medal range.
Slalom is different.
This is her discipline.
But the Olympics bring added pressure. Expectations tighten. Even Marco Odermatt leaves these Games with three medals and a fourth-place finish — but none gold.
Two runs decide everything.
The Challengers
Camille Rast (bib 3) has been the most consistent challenger this season. Wendy Holdener (bib 5) thrives in championship settings. Katharina Truppe (bib 4) and Lara Colturi (bib 1) have shown they can attack from the top seed group.
X-factor Emma Aicher (bib 10) delivered the fastest slalom leg in the Team Combined on this hill.
But the special slalom is a different discipline. Two runs. Full reset.
On a flatter profile like the Cortina Slalom, margins compress and more skiers remain in the fight.
The Reigning Olympic Champion Returns
Petra Vlhová starts with bib 23.
The reigning Olympic slalom champion was severely injured in giant slalom at her home World Cup in Jasná on January 20, 2024. She has raced only once since — in the Team Combined here in Cortina.
Before the injury, Vlhová and Shiffrin defined modern slalom rivalry.
This will be only her second race back.
No matter the result, her return to elite racing deserves recognition.
A Veteran Still Chasing Olympic Hardware
Anna Swenn Larsson (bib 12) is competing in her fourth Olympic Games.
She owns 14 World Cup slalom podiums, including two victories, and won silver at the 2019 World Championships in Åre.
She has never won an Olympic medal.
Any medal Wednesday would be her first. If it is gold, it would redefine her career.
Experience matters in championship slalom.
🇺🇸 USA Women’s Olympic Slalom Roster
- Bib 2 — 🇺🇸 Paula Moltzan (USA, 1994) — World Cup SL Rank: 6
- Bib 7 — 🇺🇸 Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, 1995) — World Cup SL Rank: 1
- Bib 30 — 🇺🇸 Nina O’Brien (USA, 1997) — World Cup SL Rank: 30
- Bib 33 — 🇺🇸 A.J. Hurt (USA, 2000) — World Cup SL Rank: 38
🇨🇦 Canada Women’s Olympic Slalom Roster
- Bib 18 — 🇨🇦 Laurence St-Germain (CAN, 1994) — World Cup SL Rank: 19
- Bib 32 — 🇨🇦 Ali Nullmeyer (CAN, 1998) — World Cup SL Rank: 46
- Bib 34 — 🇨🇦 Amelia Smart (CAN, 1998) — World Cup SL Rank: 41
- Bib 39 — 🇨🇦 Kiki Alexander (CAN, 2001)
Final Alpine Race of Milano Cortina 2026
When the second run concludes, the Olympic alpine program concludes.
The women return to the World Cup circuit February 27 with downhill, followed by super-G races February 28 and March 1, including the makeup super-G from Zauchensee.
But first comes one final Olympic slalom.
Two runs.
One last medal.
And perhaps one more golden chapter in the career of the most successful slalom skier the sport has ever seen.
Course setters — First run: Klaus Mayrhofer (AUT) Second run: Sascha Sorio (SWE)
Women’s Olympic Slalom Race
The women’s Olympic slalom is set for Wednesday, February 18th. Run one begins at 4:00 a.m. ET / 1:00 a.m. PT, followed by run two at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT. Fans in Great Britain can tune in at 9:00 for the first run and 12:30 for the second.
How to Watch
- 🇺🇸 United States: Live and replay coverage on PeacockTV / USA Network
- 🇨🇦 Canada: Live stream on CBC Sports
- 🇬🇧 Great Britain: Live coverage on Discovery+,
Daily Program
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First Run Starlist
About the Author: Peter Lange
