Shiffrin's Instagram prediction shows she never doubted she'd win Olympic gold

Veteran sportswriter Richard Deitsch takes an international view of the Olympics.

Wait, are you saying there were other events happening on Wednesday at the Milano-Cortina Games beyond Canada’s heartbounding, stress-inducing, thrilling overtime win over Czechia?

We are, indeed. But we understand if you are still coming down from an incredible Canadian escape. 

Canada still continues in hockey but the Olympics are over for American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who leaves the Games with a legacy fulfilled. That’s what winning the women’s slalom gold medal on Wednesday did. No more talk about failed expectations at the Olympics. No more stories of an eight-year gold medal drought. Only greatness now. 

In a career-defining performance, Shiffrin won the slalom by 1.50 seconds over Camille Rast of Switzerland, the largest margin in any Olympic alpine skiing event since 1998. She is the first U.S. skier to win three Olympic gold medals as well as the youngest (18 years old in 2014) and oldest (30 in 2026) American woman to win an alpine gold medal. 

American Mikaela Shiffrin wins slalom for 3rd Olympic gold medal

The Olympics had been cruel, at least of late, for Shiffrin. She entered the slalom competition having failed to win a medal in six events in Beijing four years ago, followed by an 11th place in the giant slalom and a fourth-place finish in the team combined event in Cortina. But that all changed with the slalom, the rare moment where expectations and reality met head on. 

Shiffrin said she pre-wrote an Instagram post prior to the race. 

She published it after she won. 

It will be one of the great days of the Milano-Cortina Olympics with global stars competing across the arenas. The spotlight will be brightest at the