Mikaela Shiffrin won Olympic gold, then took a moment to remember her father

Payton Titus, USA TODAY Wed, 18 February 2026 at 7:38 pm UTC·4 min read CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin wanted to win Olympic gold in women's slalom as much as she feared it. "Everything in life that you do after you lose someone you love is like a new experience," Shiffrin said. "It's like being born again."Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A feeling she's resisted every day since her father Jeff died on Feb. 2, 2020. A feeling she embraced at the bottom of la Olimpia delle Tofane Wednesday afternoon, Olympic champion once more. After she crossed the finish line, 1.50 seconds ahead of the next closest skier — an eternity in the sport — she dropped her chest to her knees...