Mikaela Shiffrin hails Moltzan’s resilience after Kranjska Gora podium finish

Mikaela Shiffrin did not hesitate to applaud Paula Moltzan after the American skier delivered a courageous podium performance in Kranjska Gora, only days removed from a heavy crash in Semmering. Moltzan’s third-place finish in Saturday’s giant slalom stood out not only for the result itself, but for the resilience it required to achieve it so soon after a difficult setback.

The podium marked the seventh World Cup top-three finish of Moltzan’s career and underlined a strong collective showing from the U.S. women’s team. Nina O’Brien and Elisabeth Bocock also impressed, both finishing inside the top 15, adding further encouragement as the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics continues.

Moltzan’s response to adversity drew widespread admiration within the alpine skiing community. After crashing in Semmering, questions surrounded how quickly she could regain confidence and rhythm. Those doubts were answered emphatically on the slopes in Slovenia, where she produced two composed runs to secure her place on the podium.

Swiss skier Camille Rast claimed victory with a combined time of 2 minutes and 0.09 seconds, followed by Austria’s Julia Scheib in second. Moltzan finished just 0.47 seconds behind Rast, narrowly missing out on a higher step of the podium but still delivering a performance that spoke volumes about her mental toughness.

Shiffrin, who knows better than most how demanding the World Cup circuit can be, was quick to recognize Moltzan’s grit. Sharing her reaction on Instagram Stories, the most successful skier in history expressed disbelief and admiration at how Moltzan bounced back so quickly after her crash, calling her one of the toughest competitors on the circuit.

The praise carried weight coming from Shiffrin, whose own career has been defined by resilience as much as by record-breaking success. While Shiffrin also competed in the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, she had to settle for fifth place on the day. Though slightly off the podium, the result still represented steady progress as she continues refining her form in the discipline.

Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin made it clear that satisfaction does not always equate to contentment. While she felt encouraged by her skiing and the steps she is making, she acknowledged that there is still room to be faster. For Shiffrin, being competitive and in the mix remains an important marker, particularly as the Olympic season unfolds.

Her focus now shifts back to slalom, where she has been virtually untouchable this season. Having won all five slalom World Cup races so far, Shiffrin enters the next event as the clear favorite, continuing a run of dominance that has defined her winter.

With 106 World Cup victories to her name, Shiffrin’s legacy is already secure, but her motivation remains firmly rooted in performance rather than accolades alone. The approach has kept her at the top of the sport for more than a decade and positions her as one of the central figures heading into the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

The upcoming Games carry personal significance for Shiffrin, who endured a difficult experience at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Despite entering as a medal favorite, she failed to finish the slalom and giant slalom events and placed ninth in the super-G. Those results stood in stark contrast to her Olympic successes in earlier years.

Shiffrin burst onto the Olympic stage in 2014, winning slalom gold at just 18 years old. Four years later in PyeongChang, she added another gold in giant slalom and a silver medal in the alpine combined. The mixed emotions of Olympic competition have only sharpened her resolve as she prepares for another chance on the sport’s biggest stage.

Moltzan is expected to be part of the U.S. contingent alongside Shiffrin at the 2026 Games, and her performance in Kranjska Gora reinforced her status as a reliable competitor in pressure situations. Lindsey Vonn is also set to feature, bringing experience and star power to the American team.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s comment on Paula Moltzan’s podium

Beyond the women’s events, Team USA will look to athletes such as Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Alex Hall to make an impact across disciplines. With the Winter Olympics scheduled to run from February 6 to February 22, 2026, performances like Moltzan’s podium in Slovenia serve as timely reminders that resilience and depth remain key strengths for the American squad.

As the season progresses, moments like these offer more than just results. They highlight the determination required to compete at the highest level and the mutual respect that exists among athletes pushing one another forward on the road to Olympic competition.