Superstar teen skier Mikaela Shiffrin in a rainy women鈥檚 giant slalom. Slovenia鈥檚 Tina Maze took the top spot, claiming her second gold medal of the Sochi Games.
Shiffrin skied half a second slower than Maze and just two-tenths of a second slower than bronze medalist Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany. Julia Mancuso, America鈥檚 most decorated female alpine skier, after she skied off-course during her first run.
It鈥檚 a strong performance for 18-year-old Shiffrin, who鈥檚 favored to medal in slalom this Friday. The Colorado native has already won seven World Cup slalom races and is the event鈥檚 reigning world champion coming into Sochi.聽
Even though she finished off the podium Tuesday, she鈥檚 already getting fired up for the giant slalom of the 2018 Winter Games. 聽
“I wanted a gold, but I think this was meant to happen,” Shiffrin told USA Today. “I believe I wasn’t going to win my first World Cup slalom until I was ready, because if I won it a minute early I wouldn’t be able to continue to win. I think it’s the same with GS. 鈥 This is something I can learn from, and the next Olympics I go to, I鈥檓 sure as heck not getting fifth.鈥
Read more about Shiffrin鈥檚 date with Olympic destiny. 聽