American alpine skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin has finally ended her lengthy Olympic medal drought, capturing gold in the women’s slalom competition with a commanding performance.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — After eight years without an Olympic medal, Shiffrin delivered two exceptional runs that secured her victory by a margin of 1.50 seconds. While dozens of additional competitors still need to complete their runs, Shiffrin holds the top position among the 30 fastest skiers from the opening round. Switzerland’s world champion Camille Rast currently sits in second place, with Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson holding third.
TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norwegian cross-country skiing legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has added another chapter to his record-breaking Olympic career, claiming his 10th gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete, competing alongside Einar Hedegart, dominated the men’s team sprint competition to earn his fifth gold medal at these 2026 Games. Klaebo initially shattered the Winter Olympics record during Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay event. Swedish competitors Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist maintained their nation’s successful streak in the women’s division.
MILAN (AP) — American figure skater Alysa Liu has emerged as the United States’ primary medal contender heading into the women’s free skate program at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The current world champion executed an impressive short program highlighted by a triple lutz-triple loop combination, the most challenging jump sequence attempted by any competitor Tuesday evening. Liu trails Japan’s Ami Nakai by just two points and sits directly behind Kaori Sakamoto in the standings. Her American teammates struggled significantly in the individual competition, with Isabeau Levito placing eighth and U.S. national champion Amber Glenn dropping to 13th position despite successfully completing a triple axel.
MADRID (AP) — Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has firmly rejected accusations of making racist comments toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League encounter, when he was seen covering his mouth with his jersey. The 20-year-old Argentine forward stated, “I have never been racist with anyone.” If UEFA’s disciplinary proceedings find Prestianni guilty of racial abuse, he could face a 10-match suspension. The European soccer organization has assigned a special investigator to collect evidence regarding the incident. Tuesday’s match was suspended for almost 10 minutes after officials implemented the anti-racism protocol. Benfica supporters responded to Vinícius’s 50th-minute goal celebration near the corner flag by hurling bottles and debris at the Madrid players, leading to Prestianni’s confrontation with Vinícius.
The expansion of women’s athletics has coincided with remarkable growth in specialized media coverage, as outlets including TOGETHXR, The GIST, Just Women’s Sports, The IX Sports, GOALS and Good Game with Sarah Spain continue broadening their influence and transforming the industry landscape. Olympic competition has demonstrated that dedicated media attention for women’s sports generates passionate viewership, according to industry analysts. While traditional sports media organizations are enhancing their women’s sports coverage in both scope and quality, University of Michigan sport management professor Ketra Armstrong describes the emergence of women-led media companies as uniquely “liberating” because female athletes are “owning their stories and not waiting for it to be filtered through any traditional lens.”
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball Players Association leader Tony Clark has stepped down from his position, the union confirmed, as potential salary cap negotiations approach amid a federal financial investigation. According to a source familiar with union discussions, Clark was requested to resign by the eight-member executive subcommittee following an internal investigation by outside legal counsel that uncovered evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Clark and his sister-in-law, who has worked for the union since 2023. The individual requested anonymity since this information was not publicly disclosed.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Golf legend Tiger Woods remains focused on boardroom responsibilities rather than tournament competition, though he hasn’t completely dismissed a potential Masters Tournament appearance. Woods maintains that participating in golf’s first major championship of the year remains a possibility. However, he’s coming off an unprecedented year without competing in any tournaments, following disk replacement surgery in October. His current priorities center on PGA Tour boardroom duties as chairman of the committee restructuring the tournament schedule. His potential role as Ryder Cup captain also remains undetermined.
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA Players’ Association submitted a revised collective bargaining agreement proposal to the league Tuesday, featuring modified demands regarding revenue sharing and housing arrangements, according to a source close to the negotiations who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of discussions. The union has adjusted its request to an average of 27.5% of gross revenue throughout the agreement’s duration, including only 25% during the initial year. Their previous proposal had sought an average exceeding 30%.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — More than a dozen former international cricket team captains have appealed to Pakistan’s government for improved prison conditions and medical treatment for former cricket star and politician Imran Khan. The captains, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, expressed concerns about Khan’s vision problems while incarcerated. Khan’s political party and supporters renewed their Wednesday demands for his transfer from prison to a hospital facility. In their letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 14 former captains requested that Khan receive treatment with “dignity and basic human consideration,” highlighting worries about reported deterioration in his right eye vision during detention.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s recent Olympic accident has intensified calls for ski binding technology improvements, targeting one of skiing’s most established equipment components. Officials from FIS and U.S. Ski and Snowboard indicate that “smart binding” technology remains in preliminary development stages. Industry specialists suggest new algorithmic systems could detect control loss and activate quicker release mechanisms, similar to mandatory airbag systems in high-speed competitions. Technology developers caution that precise timing presents challenges, while funding sources remain uncertain.
