MILAN (AP) — This gallery showcases top photos from Day 4 of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics taken by Associated Press photographers.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, from right, Ben Ogden, of the United States, and Oskar Opstad Vike, of Norway, compete in the final of the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Gold medalist Linn Svahn, of Sweden, center, hugs silver medalist Jonna Sundling, right, and bronze medalist Maja Dahlqvist, both also of Sweden, after the cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Silver medalist Ben Ogden, of the United States, does a back flip from the podium while gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, and bronze medalist Oskar Opstad Vike, also of Norway, right, look on after the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Sweden's Rasmus Wranaa and Isabella Wranaa celebrate after winning the gold medal mixed doubles curling match against USA, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Sondre Slettemark, of Denmark, competes in the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Giovanni Bresadola, of Italy, soars through the air during the ski jumping mixed team competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Italy's Amedeo Bagnis arrives at the finish during a men's skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, from right, Ben Ogden, of the United States, and Oskar Opstad Vike, of Norway, compete in the final of the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Gold medalist Linn Svahn, of Sweden, center, hugs silver medalist Jonna Sundling, right, and bronze medalist Maja Dahlqvist, both also of Sweden, after the cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Silver medalist Ben Ogden, of the United States, does a back flip from the podium while gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, and bronze medalist Oskar Opstad Vike, also of Norway, right, look on after the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Oskar Opstad Vike, of Norway, celebrates with fans after winning the bronze medal in the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Pietro Sighel of Italy, right, leads his heat while competing in the men's 1000 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Linn Svahn, of Sweden, crosses the finish line ahead of Jonna Sundling, also of Sweden, to win the gold medal in cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Japan's Rei Halloran makes a save during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Japan and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Norway's Birk Ruud competes during the men's freestyle skiing slopestyle finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Austria's Katharina Huber speeds down the course during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Julia Kern, of the United States reacts after crossing the finish line in a semifinal of the cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Arianna Fontana of Italy celebrates after Team Italy takes the gold medal in the team mixed relay short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Japan's Ryusei Yamada practices during a snowboarding halfpipe training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Corinne Stoddard of the United States wipes out as Xinran Wang of the People's Republic of China moves past to win while competing in the women's 500 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Sweden's Rasmus Wranaa and Isabella Wranaa celebrate after winning the gold medal mixed doubles curling match against USA, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Sondre Slettemark, of Denmark, competes in the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Giovanni Bresadola, of Italy, soars through the air during the ski jumping mixed team competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Italy's Amedeo Bagnis arrives at the finish during a men's skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, from right, Ben Ogden, of the United States, and Oskar Opstad Vike, of Norway, compete in the final of the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Gold medalist Linn Svahn, of Sweden, center, hugs silver medalist Jonna Sundling, right, and bronze medalist Maja Dahlqvist, both also of Sweden, after the cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Silver medalist Ben Ogden, of the United States, does a back flip from the podium while gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, and bronze medalist Oskar Opstad Vike, also of Norway, right, look on after the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Oskar Opstad Vike, of Norway, celebrates with fans after winning the bronze medal in the cross-country skiing men's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Pietro Sighel of Italy, right, leads his heat while competing in the men's 1000 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Linn Svahn, of Sweden, crosses the finish line ahead of Jonna Sundling, also of Sweden, to win the gold medal in cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Japan's Rei Halloran makes a save during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Japan and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Norway's Birk Ruud competes during the men's freestyle skiing slopestyle finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Austria's Katharina Huber speeds down the course during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Julia Kern, of the United States reacts after crossing the finish line in a semifinal of the cross-country skiing women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Arianna Fontana of Italy celebrates after Team Italy takes the gold medal in the team mixed relay short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Japan's Ryusei Yamada practices during a snowboarding halfpipe training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Corinne Stoddard of the United States wipes out as Xinran Wang of the People's Republic of China moves past to win while competing in the women's 500 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin didn't offer any excuses. No sense of anger, frustration or tears for that matter, either.
The most decorated slalom racer in history could tell the snow under her skis didn't feel right to her as she made her way down the Tofane course in the first Olympic women's team combined event on Tuesday.
Something about the feedback she was getting seemed ... off.
By the time Shiffrin crossed the finish line, the slim lead Breezy Johnson handed her after a brilliant and gutsy downhill was gone. So was a shot at the gold, which went to the Austrian team of Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber.
Silver and bronze disappeared, too, with fellow Team USA members Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan holding off their two friends for third to earn the first Olympic medals of their lengthy careers.
Shiffrin's been doing this a long time. She knows these things happen. Yet for Shiffrin, they have typically come in training. The only time they seem to pop up in competition is at the Olympics.
Four years removed from a forgettable two weeks in Beijing when she went 0 for 6 and failed to even reach the finish line three times, Shiffrin's fourth Olympics began with a run that started slow and never came together. She lost time at every checkpoint, sending her and Johnson sliding down to fourth.
How sluggish was Shiffrin? Her time of 45.38 was 15th fastest out of the 18 skiers who reached the bottom. For comparison, Shiffrin hadn't finished that low in an individual slalom she finished since 2012, when she still was a teenager and her rise to three Olympic medals and a record 108 World Cup titles (and counting) was still beyond her wildest dreams.
“There's something to learn today,” Shiffrin said. “I'm going to learn it.”
It wasn't a confidence issue. Shiffrin took the chair lift up to the top of the course inspired by Johnson, who backed up a gold-medal performance in the women's downhill on Sunday by storming her way to the front to give Shiffrin a slim lead of .06 seconds heading into the slalom.
Shiffrin, who knows a thing or two about attention, marveled at Johnson's ability to focus given the whirlwind that comes when you break through at the Olympics. She leaned forward at the start intent on giving Johnson her second gold in 48 hours.
Down at the finish, Wiles and Moltzan sat in third torn between rooting for their teammates and dreading having a medal snatched away by the best to ever do it.
“We were asking for a miracle,” Wiles said.
They got one. Shiffrin stood in the finish area after her time was posted and was immediately embraced by Johnson. Hugs with Moltzan and Wiles — well aware of the bullet they dodged — soon followed.
“I think if you let Mikaela go run that course (again), I think she'd come down at least a second (faster),” Moltzan said.
Only she didn't. Not this time anyway. Whatever personal disappointment Shiffrin might have felt was offset by watching two friends she's skied alongside for the better part of two decades have their Olympic moment years in the making.
Wiles, who cried while talking to the media after a fourth-place finish in the downhill, became the oldest woman to medal in an Alpine event at 33 years, 7 months.
“There’s so much sweet about the day,” Shiffrin said. “So we’re taking that and I will have some learning to do like always.”
She always does. Shiffrin expressed confidence coming into Cortina and with good reason. Shiffrin arrived at the snow-capped Dolomite mountains having already secured her record ninth World Cup season title in her signature discipline thanks to seven victories that have offered tangible proof she remains as dominant as ever at 30.
Shiffrin was careful to not put too much pressure on herself, having learned that every Olympic experience is different. There was joy at the 2014 Sochi Games and in Pyeongchang four years later. There was dismay in China after her ambitious schedule was pockmarked with baffling DNFs that left her sitting in the snow wondering what went wrong.
The spotlight she commanded in Beijing isn't quite so bright this time around, thanks in part to the return of Lindsey Vonn. Shiffrin also took a more calculated approach to Cortina, limiting herself to the team combined, giant slalom and the slalom.
The media area that was packed to watch Vonn in the downhill was a little more roomy on an overcast afternoon. When Shiffrin crossed the line, there wasn't a collective groan from the grandstand but shouts of joy from the winners nearby.
Shiffrin will spend Wednesday recovering. On Thursday, she'll point to the rest of an Olympics that may still have plenty to offer. Just not on Tuesday, when the comfort level she needed to get to full speed never arrived.
“I’m going to have to learn what to do, what to adjust in the short time we have before the other tech races,” she said. “There’s always something to learn.”
AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this report.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' Breezy Johnson celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
United State's Mikaela Shiffrin reacts as she looks back to see her disappointing time as Germany's Emma Aicher, background left, and Kira Weidle Winkelmann celebrate winning the silver medal in an alpine ski, women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Breezy Johnson celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin, left, hugs teammates at the finish area during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin at the finish area during an alpine ski, slalom portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)