SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — As the Winter Olympics approach next year, the U.S. Ski Team is experiencing a remarkable resurgence on the international stage.
The women’s team showcased remarkable talent at the world championships held in Austria, clinching medals in four out of five events while also achieving two fourth-place finishes. They narrowly missed the podium in the mixed team parallel, finishing fourth, while the men’s team finished just outside medal contention in fourth place during the new team combined race.
The only event where the women did not secure a medal was in slalom, where renowned skier Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful slalom athlete in history, finished in fifth, trailing her teammate Paula Moltzan, who took fourth place.
With Lindsey Vonn anticipated to be a strong contender in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics in 2026—having regained her competitive edge after nearly six years away from the sport—the U.S. women now boast multiple medal possibilities in every event.
For the men’s team, the 2026 Games will be held at a venue in Bormio, where Ryan Cochran-Siegle has achieved some of his top results throughout his career. During the last Winter Olympics in Beijing three years ago, Cochran-Siegle secured the United States’ sole skiing medal—a silver in the super-G—while the women did not come away with any medals at that time.
Reflecting on the team’s depth, Shiffrin expressed her enthusiasm for the progress made. “I don’t recall experiencing this level of depth in my skiing career,” she said. “It’s been extraordinary to witness the growth over the years, culminating in these world championships. My hope is that this momentum continues in the upcoming year and beyond.”
New star Lauren Macuga launched the U.S. team’s medal tally by achieving a bronze in super-G. Breezy Johnson took a sensational victory in the downhill and collaborated with Shiffrin to seize another gold in the team combined event. Additionally, Moltzan added a bronze in giant slalom to the tally. Cochran-Siegle and his teammate Ben Ritchie came close to medal contention, finishing just outside the podium in combined.
The U.S. ski team hasn’t displayed such a wealth of medal contenders since the days of skiing giants like Bode Miller, Ted Ligety, Vonn, and Julia Mancuso. Vonn, now 40 years old, recognized the potential of the current squad as soon as she returned to the fold.
“I’m immensely proud of my teammates. Lauren is only 22, and she has a bright future ahead,” Vonn noted. “It’s incredibly impressive that Breezy has returned from such a serious injury to become a world champion.”
The women’s skiing events at the Olympics will take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a venue where Vonn holds the record for 12 World Cup wins. U.S. downhill racer Jacqueline Wiles has also achieved podium finishes there on two occasions.
“I’m genuinely excited about the Olympics next year because we have a wealth of talent and immense potential,” Vonn added confidently. “I know we are capable of accomplishing incredible feats together.”
Moltzan echoed this sentiment, adding, “I believe we can medal in every event.” Cochran-Siegle previously secured his only World Cup victory in Bormio four seasons ago and has three additional top-five finishes on the challenging Stelvio course.
“I hope that as a collective, we can maintain our competitive edge,” Cochran-Siegle stated. “Nothing is guaranteed; everything must be earned. However, I am optimistic that it will be a fantastic Olympic venue.”
