Brignone wins her second gold, Ljutić finishes 17th in the giant slalom
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Federica Brignone of Italy won her second gold medal in the giant slalom, while Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutić placed 17th.
The women's giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo concluded with notable performances and medals awarded. Italian skier Federica Brignone triumphed, securing her second gold medal of these Games with an impressive total time of 2:13.50. The competition was fierce, with the silver medal shared between Sweden's Sara Hector and Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund, both finishing with the same time of 2:14.12.
Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutić placed 17th overall with a total time of 2:15.01 after a slower first run. However, she showed improvement in her second run, posting a better time which helped elevate her position. Additionally, another young Croatian competitor, Pia Vučinić, did not complete her first run, marking a challenging day for the Croatian team. On the other hand, American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin finished in 11th place, continuing her search for an Olympic medal since 2018.
This giant slalom event not only showcased the skill and determination of various athletes but also set the stage for future contests as Olympic excitement continues to grow. The performances, especially by Brignone, help to underline the unpredictability and competitive nature of Olympic skiing, while also reflecting the potential and challenges faced by younger participants like Ljutić and Vučinić.