CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — When Italy’s Federica Brignone crossed the finish line for a second time Sunday, Feb. 15 in the women’s giant slalom, Swedish skier Sara Hector and Norwegian Thea Louise Stjernesund fell to their knees and bowed before the queen of Olimpia delle Tofane.
Brignone won her second gold medal of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, adding the top prize from today’s giant slalom to her super-G gold from Thursday, Feb. 12.
The golds come less than less than 10 months after the Italian star shattered her left leg in a crash, tearing her ACL and fracturing two bones.
Brignone finished with a two-run time of 2:13.50, a whopping 0.62 seconds ahead of the field. Hector and Stjernesund tied for silver at 2:14.12. They were part of a three-way tie for fourth after run No. 1.
Mikaela Shiffrin was the top American, finishing in 11th with a total time 2:14.42, followed by Paula Moltzan in 15th (2:14.77) and Nina O’Brien in 20th (2:15.31). O’Brien jumped nine spots between runs No. 1 and 2, after tying for the fastest run of the second round (1:09.50).
USA TODAY had full results from both round as well as highlights from the all the giant slalom action below.
Women’s giant slalom results
(Round 2 times followed by total time for the top 30 skiers. Four skiers did not finish second run):
- 1. Federica Brignone, Italy ….. (Round 2: 1:10.27) | 2:13.50
- 2. (Tie) Sara Hector, Sweden ….. (Round 2: 1:10.15) | 2:14.12
- 2. (Tie) Thea Louise Stjernesund, Norway ….. (Round 2: 1:10.15) | 2:14.12
- 4. Lara Della Mea, Italy ….. (Round 2: 1:09.75) | 2:14.17
- 5. Julia Scheib, Austria ….. (Round 2: 1:09.83) | 2:14.19
- 6. Mina Fuerst Holtmann, Norway ….. (Round 2: 1:09.96) | 2:14.24
- 7. Maryna, Gasienica-Daniel, Poland ….. (Round 2: 1:09.86) | 2:14.25
- 8. Alice Robinson, New Zealand ….. (Round 2: 1:09.98) | 2:14.30
- 9. Lena Duerr, Germany ….. (Round 2: 1:10.74) | 2:14.31
- 10. Sofia Goggia, Italy ….. (Round 2: 1:10.68) | 2:14.37
- 11. Mikaela Shiffrin, USA ….. (Round 2: 1:10.17) | 2:14.42
- 12. Camille Rast, Switzerland ….. (Round 2: 1:10.12) | 2:14.49
- 13. Valerie Grenier, Canada ….. (Round 2: 1:10.32) | 2:14.58
- 14. Asja Zenere, Italy ….. (Round 2: 1:09.50) | 2:14.63
- 15. Paula Moltzan, USA ….. (Round 2: 1:10.38) | 2:14.77
- 16. Lara Colturi, Albania ….. (Round 2: 1:10.85) | 2:14.82
- 17. Zrinka Ljutic, Croatia ….. (Round 2: 1:09.67) | 2:15.01
- 18. Nina Aster, Austria ….. (Round 2: 1:10.61) | 2:15.08
- 19. Emma Aicher, Germany ….. (Round 2: 1:10.65) | 2:15.13
- 20. Nina O’Brien, USA ….. (Round 2: 1:09.50) | 2:15.31
- 21. Hanna Aronsson Elfman, Sweden …. (Round 2: 1:09.85) | 2:15.35
- 22. Doriane Escane, France ….. (Round 2: 1:10.57) | 2:15.39
- 23. Vanessa Kasper, Switzerland …. (Round 2: 1:10.48) | 2:15.82
- 24. Sue Piller, Switzerland …. (Round 2: 1:10.29) | 2:15.85
- 25. Madeleine Sylvester-Davik ….. (Round 2: 1:10.43) | 2:15.92
- 26. Britt Richardson, Canada ….. (Round 2: 1:11.68) | 2:16.65
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, Norway ….. DNF
- Stephanie Brunner, Austria ….. DNF
- Camille Cerutti, France ….. DNF
- Ana Bucik Jogan, Slovenia …. DNF
Italy’s Brignone wins second gold
Oh my God, Federica Brignone has done it again! Less than 10 months after shattering her left leg in a crash, the Italian now has a second gold medal of these Olympics.
Just three days after winning gold in the super-G, Brignone posts the top times in both the first and second runs to win the giant slalom with ease. The Italian star posted a combined time of 2:13.50, 0.62 seconds ahead Sweden’s Sara Hector and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund, who tied for silver.
When Brignone crossed the finish line, she put her hands on her helmet, which had the image of a tiger in it. Her fellow competitors heard her roar, indeed, falling to their knees and bowing down to the Italian star.
Italy’s Lara Della Mea, whom Brigone knocked off the podium, embraced her countrywoman, jumping up and down with Brigone in her arms to celebrate another gold for the host country. Della Mea finished fourth, 0.67 seconds behind the leader, but just 0.05 behind the co-silver medalists.
How the Americans fared in women’s giant slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin finished 11th in the giant slalom, while Paula Moltzan was 15th. Nina O’Brien jumped up to 20th, thanks to the fastest time in the second run, 1:09.50, tied with Italy’s Asja Zenere.
Tie for first place with just a few skiers to go
The ties keep coming! After a three-way tie for fourth in first run, Sweden’s Sara Hector and Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund are tied atop the leaderboard. The Scandinavian skiers posted the exact same time in both the first and second runs.
Shiffrin misses the giant slalom podium
Big cheer at bottom of the hill when American star Mikaela Shiffrin is introduced.
Shiffrin produced another solid effor, but it was not enough to crack the top 3. She started fast and didn’t appear to be backing off at all, even when she lost speed toward the bottom.
Great conditions for second run
American Nina O’Brien says conditions are still perfect.
“We call it hero snow. I mean, it can be tricky to be fast on it because it feels so smooth and good.”
Team USA’s Moltzan aggressive once again
That was a bit of a roller coaster from Paula Moltzan. Picked up speed at the top, which few others have managed to do, but then got slowed further down, where the course got turny. She’s in third with 12 still to go.
Podium changing quickly
Germany’s Emma Aicher, who has a pair of silvers already at these Games, with the third fastest two-run time of the day so far at 2:15.13, officially bumping American Nina O’Brien to fourth. One skier later, Nina Aster of Austria bumps Aicher off the podium.
Italy’s Asja Zenere leads after 14 skiers, followed by Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic and Aster.
New leader after second run of giant slalom
Nina O’Brien’s time in the hot seat is done. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic has bumped her into second.
American Nina O’Brien lays down a good time
Nina O’Brien is the clubhouse leader! OK, she was the second skier in this run and the first skier did not finish.
Still, O’Brien can give Paula Moltzan and Mikaela Shiffrin valuable intel on the course and the snow conditions
Giant slalom second run begins
And we’re off again! Second run has started, but it’ll be a while before the medal contenders are up. The first skier, Camille Cerutti of France, could not finish her run.
Women’s giant slalom results — First run
- Federica Brignone, Italy ….. 1:03.23
- Lena Duerr, Germany ….. 1:03.57
- Sofia Goggia, Italy ….. 1:03.69
- Thea Louise Stjernesund, Norway ….. 1:03.97
- Sara Hector, Sweden ….. 1:03.97
- Lara Colturi, Albania ….. 1:03.97
- Mikaela Shiffrin, USA ….. 1:04.25
- Valerie Grenier, Canada ….. 1:04.26
- Mina Fuerst Holtmann, Norway ….. 1:04.28
- Alice Robinson, New Zealand ….. 1:04.32
- Julia Scheib, Austria ….. 1:04.36
- Camille Rast, Switzerland ….. 1:04.37
- Paula Moltzan, USA ….. 1:04.39
- Maryna, Gasienica-Daniel, Poland ….. 1:04.39
- Lara Della Mea, Italy ….. 1:04.42
- Nina Aster, Austria ….. 1:04.47
- Emma Aicher, Germany ….. 1:04.48
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, Norway ….. 1:04.65
- Doriane Escane, France ….. 1:04.82
- Britt Richardson, Canada ….. 1:04.97
- Stephanie Brunner, Austria ….. 1:04.97
- Asja Zenere, Italy ….. 1:05.13
- Zrinka Ljutic, Croatia ….. 1:05.34
- Vanessa Kasper, Switzerland …. 1:05.34
- Ana Bucik Jogan, Slovenia …. 1:05.35
- Madeleine Sylvester-Davik, Norway ….. 1:05.49
- Hanna Aronsson Elfman, Sweden …. 1:05.50
- Sue Piller, Switzerland …. 1:05.56
- Nina O’Brien, USA ….. 1:05.81
- Camille Cerutti, France …. 1:05.98
- Estelle Alphand, Sweden ….. 1:06.02
- Justine LaMontagne, Canada ….. 1:06.34
- Lisa Hoerhager, Austria …. 1:06.47
- Gwyneth Ten Raa, Luxembourg …. 1:06.60
- Noa Szollos, Israel …. 1:06.73
- Elvedina Muzaferija, Bosnia and Herzegovina ….. 1:06.83
- Francesca Baruzzi Farriol, Argentina …. 1:06.83
- Madeleine Beck, Liechtenstein ….. 1:07.08
- Caterina Sinigoi, Slovenia …. 1:07.10
- Phoebe Heaydon, Austria ….. 1:07.33
- Nika Tomsic, Slovenia ….. 1:07.54
- Piera Hudson, United Arab Emirates ….. 1:08.01
- Zita Toth, Hungary ….. 1:08.69
- Alexandra Skorokhodova, Kazakhstan ….. 1:08.82
- Sara Schleper, Mexico ….. 1:08.95
- Anastasiia Shepilenko, Ukraine …. 1:08.97
- Alena Labastova, Czechia …. 1:09.05
- Sohui Sim, South Korea ….. 1:09.59
- Vanina Suerillot, Portugal ….. 1:10.07
- Elin van Pelt, Iceland ….. 1:10.28
- Emma Gatcliffe, Trinidad and Tobago ….. 1:10.48
- Semire Dauti, Albania ….. 1:10.95
- Lara Markthaler, South Africa ….. 1:12.17
- Sonja Li Kristinsdottir, Iceland ….. 1:12.31
- Mialitiana Clerc, Madagascar ….. 1:12.35
- Nino Tsiklauri, Georgia ….. 1:12.39
- Sofia Maria Moldovan, Romania ….. 1:12.46
- Anabelle Zurbay, Ireland ….. 1:12.82
- Esma Alic, Bosnia and Herzegovina ….. 1:14.48
- Tallulah Proulix, Philippines ….. 1:17.15
- Maria Eleni Tsiovolou, Greece ….. 1:17.44
- Yuying Zhang, China ….. 1:22.49
- Cassidy Gray, Canada …. DNF
- A.J. Hurt, USA ….. DNF
- Clara Direz, France ….. DNF
- Rebeka Jancova, Slovakia …. DNF
- Anina Zurbriggen, Bulgaria …. DNF
- Nicole Begue, Argentina ….. DNF
- Aruwin Salehhuddin, Malaysia ….. DNF
- Seoyun Park, South Korea, DNF
- Pia Vucinic, Croatia ….. DNF
- Jana Atanasovska, North Macedonia ….. DNF
- Elisa Maria Negri, Czechia ….. DNF
- Neringa Stepanauskaite, Lithuania ….. DNF
- Kiana Kryeziu, Kosovo ….. DNF
- Wendy Holdener, Switzerland …. DNS
USA’s Hurt records first DNF of the day
A.J. hurt is out, missing a gate on the bottom of the third of the course. Waved as she came into the finish line, then gave a shrug as if to say, “What are you going to do.”
Can Shiffrin overcome deficit in Run 2?
For those asking, Mikaela Shiffrin earlier this season erased a 0.54-second deficit to win the slalom World Cup in Semmering, Austria. It was the largest gap she’d overcome in more than a decade, at least on slalom.
Host country making a statement in first run
The Italians are having a great day. Sofia Goggia just skied into third place after a strong finish. Goggia looked shocked, putting her hands to her helmet before turning and waving to the cheering crowd.
This gives Italy two in the top three right now, with Federica Brignone still in first
Germany’s Duerr nearly matches leader
Germany’s Lena Duerr made a furious push at the bottom of the course and it paid off. She’s into second place, trailing Italy’s Federica Brignone by 0.34 seconds.
Olympic gold medalist jumps into lead
Federica Brignone is putting herself in position for a second gold medal, zooming past a three-way tie to claim first outright after 14 skiers. The Italian took a 0.74-second lead after her first run, a couple of days after dominating the super-G. Almost hard to believe Brignone shattered her left leg less than 10 months ago.
The home crowd cheered her on as she burst from the starting gate, getting louder with each negative split down the course. When she crossed the finish line, fans in the stands jumped to their feet.
American Nina O’Brien would like a do-over
Nina O’Brien cost herself some time by getting airborne on the last jump. She knew it, too, throwing her head back after she crossed the finish line in 1:05.81, the slowest time of the first run so far.
Colturi makes it a three-way tie for first
Albania’s Lara Colturi made it a three-way tie for first with Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund and Sweden’s Sara Hector. All three skiers turned in a time of 1:03.97.
Colturi, 19, had been on a hot streak earlier this season but couldn’t find the podium recently. Looks like he’s found her groove again
Shiffrin lays down clean run
Mikaela Shiffrin is keeping herself in the mix. Shiffrin skied a solid run, showing none of the tentativeness she did in the combined, and was 0.28 seconds behind clubhouse leader Sara Hector of Sweden. Lot of skiers to go, but this is a positive performance from Shiffrin.
Hector was the gold medalist in this event four years ago.
USA’s Paula Moltzan throws down aggressive run
Paula Moltzan was flirting with taking over the lead until getting a little chaotic at the end. The American, who won a bronze in the combined, had to make a spectacular save on the last turn, landing in one leg. She is 0.42 out of first place.
Moltzan had to make a wild save rounding the last turn, landing on one leg before crossing the finish line in 5th place at 1:04.39.
What time is the Olympic women’s giant slalom?
The first run of the women’s giant slalom is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local), and the second run is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. local).
What TV channel is the Olympic women’s giant slalom on?
USA Network will have live coverage of Round 1 of the women’s giant slalom at 4 a.m. ET, while NBC will broadcast Round 2 at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Stream the 2026 Winter Olympics on Peacock
Is there a live stream of the Olympic women’s giant slalom?
Both rounds of the Olympic women’s giant slaom can be streamed on Peacock or or on NBCOlympics.com (must sign on with your cable or satellite provider).
Where is the Olympic women’s giant slalom race?
The women’s giant slalom event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is being held at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
What is the start list for the women’s giant slalom?
- Thea Louise Stjernesund
- Sara Hector, Sweden
- Mikaela Shiffrin, USA
- Camille Rast, Switzerland
- Paula Moltzan, USA
- Alice Robinson, New Zealand
- Julia Scheib, Austria
- Zrinka Ljutic, Croatia
- Valerie Grenier, Canada
- Lara Colturi, Albania
- Nina O’Brien, USA
- Lara Della Mea, Italy
- Maryna, Gasienica-Daniel, Poland
- Federica Brignone, Italy
- Britt Richardson, Canada
- Lena Duerr, Germany
- Sofia Goggia, Italy
- Wendy Holdener, Switzerland
- Emma Aicher, Germany
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, Norway
- Mina Fuerst Holtmann, Norway
- Stephanie Brunner, Austria
- AJ Hurt, USA
- Estelle Alphand, Sweden
- Asja Zenere, Italy
- Nina Aster, Austria
- Vanessa Kasper, Switzerland
- Clara Direz, France
- Sue Piller, Switzerland
- Madeleine Sylvester-Davik, Norway
- Sohui Sim, South Korea
- Hanna Aronsson Elfman, Sweden
- Francesca Baruzzi Farriol, Argentina
- Cassidy Gray, Canada
- Camille Cerutti, France
- Lisa Hoerhager, Austria
- Doriane Escane, France
- Noa Szollos, Israel
- Ana Bucik Jogan, Slovenia
- Gwyneth Ten Raa, Luxembourg
- Rebeka Jancova, Slovakia
- Justine LaMontagne, Canada
- Caterina Sinigoi, Slovenia
- Nika Tomsic, Slovenia
- Anina Zurbriggen, Bulgaria
- Anastasiia Shepilenko, Ukraine
- Madeleine Beck, Liechtenstein
- Elvedina Muzaferija, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sara Schleper, Mexico
- Piera Hudson, United Arab Emirates
- Alexandra Skorokhodova, Kazakhstan
- Phoebe Heaydon, Austria
- Nicole Begue, Argentina
- Aruwin Salehhuddin, Malaysia
- Seoyun Park, South Korea
- Lara Markthaler, South Africa
- Semire Dauti, Albania
- Pia Vucinic, Croatia
- Alena Labastova, Czechia
- Sofia Maria Moldovan, Romania
- Jana Atanasovska, North Macedonia
- Emma Gatcliffe, Trinidad and Tobago
- Anabelle Zurbay, Ireland
- Elisa Maria Negri, Czechia
- Elin van Pelt, Iceland
- Vanina Suerillot, Portugal
- Zita Toth, Hungary
- Yuying Zhang, China
- Nino Tsiklauri, Georgia
- Esma Alic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Neringa Stepanauskaite, Lithuania
- Kiana Kryeziu, Kosovo
- Sonja Li Kristinsdottir, Iceland
- Tallulah Proulix, Philippines
- Maria Eleni Tsiovolou, Greece
- Mialitiana Clerc, Madagascar
Who are the other top contenders?
In addition to the Americans, keep your eyes on Austria’s Julia Scheib, Switzerland’s Camille Rast, Sweden’s Sara Hector and New Zealand’s Alice Robinson.
Scheib leads the GS standings, having been on the podium in all but two of the eight World Cup races this year. She’s won four of them and was second in the other two.
Rast is second in the overall standings, with one GS win and two other podium finishes. Hector won the last GS race, while Robinson won two of the first three GS races.