2026 Winter Olympics Alpine Skiing |Complete Guide to Thrills, Results, and Historic Moments|
Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is delivering some of the most exciting moments of the Games. From historic gold medals to surprising upsets, the slopes in Italy have become the stage for unforgettable performances.
What is Alpine Skiing at the Olympics?
Alpine skiing is one of the most popular events at the Winter Olympics. Athletes race down steep mountain slopes at incredible speeds, navigating gates and challenging terrain. The sport tests both speed and technical skill.
The men’s and women’s alpine skiing events are being held at different venues in the Milan area, around five hours from one another. This setup allows fans to experience two unique mountain locations.
The Big Stars to Watch
Plenty of stars are in the spotlight, including Mikaela Shiffrin, Federica Brignone, Lindsey Vonn and Marco Odermatt. These athletes represent the best in the world, each bringing unique skills and incredible records to the competition.
Mikaela Shiffrin: The Record Breaker
U.S. Alpine Skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin won gold in the Giant Slalom and silver in the Alpine Combined at these Games. Shiffrin is the most successful alpine skier – male or female – in World Cup history, with 108 victories.
At just 30 years old, Shiffrin has already made history. Her first Olympic medal came during her debut at the 2014 Sochi Games, where she claimed gold in the slalom, becoming the youngest woman ever to do so.
However, her Olympic journey hasn’t always been smooth. She has now failed to medal in seven consecutive Olympic races before winning medals at Milano Cortina 2026.
In the team combined event, Shiffrin delivered the 15th-slowest time (45.38 seconds) of the 18 slalom skiers, showing that even the best athletes face Olympic pressure.
Marco Odermatt: Switzerland’s Powerhouse
Marco Odermatt entered these Olympics as one of the biggest favourites. Heading into the Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina 2026, the Swiss alpine skier has enjoyed a phenomenal Olympic cycle, backing up his Beijing 2022 gold in the giant slalom in supreme fashion.
Odermatt finished with bronze in Men’s Super-G, silver in Men’s Giant Slalom, and silver in Men’s Team Combined at these Olympics.
Odermatt was tipped for a haul of three gold medals at Milano Cortina 2026. He ended with none, but a masterful run in the Giant Slalom made silver a strong finish to his second Winter Olympics.
Despite not winning gold, Odermatt said, “In the end, when you go home with three medals, this is a great achievement”.
Also Read: 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Figure Skating |Complete Guide to the Epic Battle on Ice|
The Historic Moment: Brazil Makes History
The most incredible story from alpine skiing at the 2026 Olympics came from an unexpected source: Brazil.
Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal in the giant slalom alpine skiing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Braathen’s triumph is a remarkable achievement for the South American nation, which in 102 years and 26 editions of the Winter Olympics, secured its very first medal in winter sports.
This wasn’t just any medal – it was GOLD! Lucas Pinheiro Braathen beat the favourite Marco Odermatt to claim the men’s giant slalom title, creating one of the biggest upset stories in Olympic alpine skiing history.
Alpine Skiing Events Explained
Alpine skiing includes several different types of races:
Downhill – The fastest and most dangerous event. Athletes race straight down the mountain at speeds over 90 mph.
Super-G (Super Giant Slalom) – Combines speed with some turning. Faster than giant slalom but slower than downhill.
Giant Slalom – Athletes make wider turns around gates. This event requires both speed and technical skill.
Slalom – The most technical event with quick, tight turns around closely spaced gates.
Team Combined – A new Olympic event where two teammates compete together, one in downhill and one in slalom.
Alpine Combined – Individual athletes compete in both downhill and slalom, with the combined time determining the winner.
Also Read: Multan PSL Franchise Sold for Record PKR 2.45 Billion, Renamed to Rawalpindi
Men’s Downhill Results
Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen delivered a sensational performance to win the Alpine skiing men’s downhill title and claim the first gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Saturday (7 February).
Medal Winners: Gold: Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) – 1:51.61 Silver: Giovanni Franzoni (Italy) – 1:51.81 Bronze: Dominik Paris (Italy) – 1:52.11
At just 24, von Allmen is the youngest Olympic downhill champion since Austria’s Matthias Mayer (23) at Sochi 2014.
The Italian crowd went wild as Giovanni Franzoni (silver) and Dominik Paris (bronze) thrilled the home crowd with Italy’s first two medals of Milano Cortina 2026.
Women’s Team Combined: American Bronze
The American team of Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan won the bronze medal in the inaugural Olympic women’s Alpine team combined event, while favourites Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin missed the podium by six hundredths of a second.
The bronze medal is the first Olympic medal for both Moltzan, 31, and Wiles, 33.
Medal Winners: Gold: Austria (Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber) – 2:21.66 Silver: Germany (Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher) – 2:21.71 Bronze: USA (Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan) – 2:21.91
The Venues
Alpine skiing events take place at two main locations:
Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio – Hosts the men’s speed events (downhill, super-G, giant slalom, combined). This is one of the most challenging and historic courses in the world.
Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo – Hosts the women’s events and some mixed events. Cortina sits about 250 miles north of Milan and has long been known for its dramatic mountain views and world-class skiing.
The resort town blends luxury storefronts and historic charm with steep slopes that have attracted elite athletes.
Why These Olympics Are Special
The 2026 Winter Olympics mark the return of Cortina to the Olympic stage. The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics have returned the alpine town to the Olympic stage – 70 years after it first hosted the Games in 1956.
This connection to history makes the competition even more meaningful for athletes and fans alike.
Understanding the Competition Format
Each alpine skiing event follows a specific format:
Technical Events (Slalom, Giant Slalom):
- Two runs on the same day
- Times from both runs are added together
- Best combined time wins
Speed Events (Downhill, Super-G):
- Usually one run only
- Fastest single time wins
- Training runs happen on previous days
Combined Events:
- One downhill run plus one slalom run
- Combined time determines the winner
The Pressure of Olympic Competition
Mikaela Shiffrin wrote: “The Olympics asks us to take a real risk on the world stage, one that requires courage and vulnerability”.
This pressure affects even the greatest athletes. The world is watching, as every athlete is all too aware of, and you have to be ready for anything in order to win everything.
Switzerland Dominates Men’s Events
The Swiss team has dominated the men’s alpine skiing events in Bormio, Franjo von Allmen winning three golds in the downhill, super-G and team combined.
Von Allmen’s performances put him in the pantheon of Olympic men’s alpine skiing greats who have won three events at one Games. Only Austrian Toni Sailer, at the 1956 Winter Games, and France’s Jean-Claude Killy in 1968, have achieved the feat
African Athletes Make Their Mark
Alpine skiing isn’t just for traditional winter sports countries. Benin’s Tchibozo led the way for African men that contested the giant slalom events, with South African teenager Thomas Weir also completing both runs on his Olympic debut.
These athletes show that the Olympic spirit knows no boundaries.
How to Watch Alpine Skiing
All of the alpine skiing action can be found on NBC’s platforms, including USA Network. Fans looking to stream the events can find them on NBCOlympics.com or Peacock.
Those watching the alpine skiing events from North America will have to wake up early to catch all the action — every day, the events begin at 5:30 a.m. ET or earlier.
What Makes Alpine Skiing Exciting?
Alpine skiing combines several thrilling elements:
- Incredible Speed – Athletes reach speeds over 90 mph on downhill courses
- Technical Precision – Perfect turns make the difference between gold and no medal
- Risk and Courage – One mistake can end an Olympic dream
- Weather Challenges – Snow, wind, and visibility constantly change conditions
- Split-Second Timing – Races are often decided by hundredths of a second
The Athletes’ Equipment
Alpine skiers use specialized equipment designed for each type of race:
- Skis – Longer for speed events, shorter for technical events
- Boots – Rigid plastic boots that connect firmly to skis
- Poles – Curved poles for aerodynamics in speed events
- Helmets – Aerodynamic designs that also protect in crashes
- Suits – Skin-tight racing suits that reduce wind resistance
Looking Ahead
Alpine skiing continues throughout the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics with more exciting events to come. Athletes will keep pushing the limits, chasing Olympic glory on the challenging Italian slopes.
The competition shows why alpine skiing remains one of the most-watched and beloved events at every Winter Olympics.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Winter Olympics alpine skiing competition has delivered everything fans hoped for: incredible performances, historic firsts, surprise victories, and heartbreaking near-misses. From Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal to Switzerland’s dominance in men’s events, these Games have created memories that will last forever.
Whether you’re watching the technical precision of slalom or the high-speed thrills of downhill, alpine skiing at Milano Cortina 2026 reminds us why the Winter Olympics captivate the world.
