Mikaela Shiffrin's teammates benefited from her unfortunate start to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Shiffrin failed to medal in her first event at Milano Cortina when she and Breezy Johnson finished .06 seconds behind United States teammates Paula Moltzan and Jackie Wiles for bronze in the inaugural women's team combined event. Johnson recorded the fastest downhill time, but Shiffrin finished 15th in her slalom run.
Despite her shortcoming, Shiffrin celebrated Wiles and Moltzan on social media.
"Congrats, Jackie and Paula," Shiffrin wrote on X. "You both deserve that so much!!"
"These two embody what it is to be a champion"
Shiffrin posted a longer tribute to Wiles and Moltzan on Instagram, sharing a heartfelt post alongside the duo smiling with their Olympic medals.
"The blood, sweat, and tears that went into this medal for both of you, on your individual paths and then coming together today…it cannot be emphasized enough how much you deserve this—and how much the broader team of coaches, staff, and all of the support system has earned this celebration of YOU," Shiffrin said. "I am, yet again, so inspired by my teammates."
Shiffrin and Johnson also penned a collaborative Instagram post saying that they learned from their first crack at a "crazy and fun new event."
"Fourth place at the Olympics is always tough," they wrote. "But I know that we are both champions. And that isn't because we both already have gold medals but because we try every day to be better, better skiers and better people. So we are going to hold our chins high, because going out there, giving it everything, when the sport is so challenging…that is how we win, and we are both going to go do more of that."
The pair called it "such an incredible moment" to see Moltzan and Wiles each win their first Olympic medal.
"These two embody what it is to be a champion," Shiffrin and Johnson added. "And unfortunately that doesn't always mean you get Olympic hardware. But today it did and that is pretty dang special. We firmly believe rising tides lift all ships. And everyone better watch out because the water is high on this team and we are just getting started."