MILAN — The biggest names in Alpine skiing are set to hit the slopes at the2026 Winter OlympicsinMilano Cortina.
Mikaela Shiffrin,Lindsey Vonnand Ryan Cochran-Siegle are some of the stars representing Team USA in Alpine skiing, where athletes race against the clock to record the fastest time down a mountain. Shiffrin is looking to bounce back from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where she walked away with no medals after multiple DNFs in her signature events (slalom, giant slalom). Vonn is set to appear in her fifth Olympic Games, despite sufferinga complete tear of the ACLin her left knee ina downhill crashon Jan. 30. Cochran-Siegle, who's at his third Olympics, won silver in super-G in 2022.
Men's Alpine skiing events will be held at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, while the women's events will be at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
When did Alpine skiing become a Winter Olympic sport?
Alpine skiing has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1936, when combined (downhill + slalom) was first contested at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games. Downhill and slalom were added to the program as separate events at the 1948 St. Moritz Winter Olympics. Giant slalom was introduced in Oslo in 1952 and super-G (also known as super giant slalom) made its debut in Calgary in 1988.
How does Olympic Alpine skiing work?
Alpine skiing includes a total of 10 events, with men and women each competing in downhill and super-G, the fastest and steepest events, in addition to giant slalom and slalom, the more technical and twisty races that require skiers to zig-zag around gates or poles. The team combined will make its debut in Milano Cortina.
Downhill: The event features longer distances between the gates and is considered the fastest Alpine skiing event. Racers get one run down the mountain. The winner is determined by the fastest time.
Super-G: The event combines the speed of downhill with the precision of slalom. It features wider curves than the other two slalom races and is held on the same slope as downhill. Athletes get one run down the mountain. The winner is determined by the fastest time.
Giant slalom: The fastest technical event has shorter distances between the gates compared to super-G, but has longer spacing than slalom. Each athlete gets two runs down the mountain and the winner is determined by the best combined time.
Slalom: The most technical race has the shortest distances between the gates, requiring skiers to make sharp turns and quickly change directions. Each athlete gets two runs down the mountain. The winner is determined by the best combined time.
Team combined: Two athletes from the same country team up for this event. One skis downhill, while the other competes in slalom. The winner is determined by best combined time.
Who are Team USA's top Alpine skiers?
Mikaela Shiffrin: The three-time Olympian is widely considered one of the greatest Alpine skiers of all time and owns more World Cup wins than any skier in history. She won gold in the slalom in 2014 Sochi and giant slalom at 2018 Pyeongchang, in addition to a silver in Alpine combined in 2018. Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson won gold at the 2025 World Championships in team combined.
Lindsey Vonn: Vonn became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. The 41-year-old also has a bronze medal in super-G (2010 Vancouver) and downhill (2018 Pyeongchang). Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019 due to multiple injuries, but returned to competition in 2024 and qualified for her fifth Winter Olympic Games. She suffered an ACL tear in a Jan. 30 crash, but said on Feb. 3 that she's "confident" she'll be able to ski in the downhill on Feb. 8.
Ryan Cochran-Siegle: The two-time Olympian won a silver medal in super-G at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the lone American Alpine skiing medal during the Beijing Games.
Alpine skiing's International landscape
Switzerland and Austria dominated Alpine skiing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Switzerland earned nine total medals (five gold) and Austria won seven (three gold).
Olympic Alpine skiing schedule
Feb. 7: Downhill
Feb. 9: Team combined
Feb. 11: Super-G
Feb. 14: Giant slalom
Feb. 16: Slalom
Feb. 8: Downhill
Feb. 10: Team combined
Feb. 12: Super-G
Feb. 15: Giant slalom
Feb. 18: Slalom
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Alpine skiing at 2026 Winter Olympics: How it works, what to know
