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Alyssa Liu Breaks 23-Year U.S. Women Alpine Drought with Olympic Bronze

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 9:59 GMT by nbcnews.com

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Alyssa Liu, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Jordan Stolz: The Spark That Lit the U.S. Alpine Skiing Season

When the 2022 Winter Olympics opened in Beijing, the United States’ alpine team faced a daunting roster of seasoned veterans and emerging stars. Among them, three names shone brighter than the rest: Alyssa Liu, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Jordan Stolz. Together, they not only captured medals but also injected a new energy into the American squad, turning the season into an unforgettable story of resilience, talent, and fierce determination.

Alyssa Liu – The New‑Generation Hope

Alyssa Liu’s rise to prominence began with a bronze medal in the super‑combined at the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo. That performance proved she could compete against the world’s best on the hardest courses. In the lead‑up to the Games, Liu steadily climbed the World Cup rankings, finishing on the podium in a slalom in Crans‑Montana and recording top‑ten finishes in both giant slalom and super‑combined events.

At the Olympics, Liu seized the moment. In the super‑combined race, she finished third behind Austria’s Livia Tunnicliffe and Switzerland’s Sandra Alberta Bögele, taking the bronze medal and giving the United States its first podium finish of the Games. Her time of 1:35.53 was a season’s best and a personal best in an Olympic setting. Liu’s victory was significant not just for the medal but also because it broke the 23‑year drought in which U.S. women had not medaled in alpine skiing at the Olympics.

Beyond the podium, Liu’s confidence and poise under pressure have been a source of inspiration for her teammates. In a post‑race interview, she credited her training camp in Utah and her supportive family for keeping her grounded. “It’s about staying present,” she said. “The race is 70 seconds; you can’t think about the whole season.”

Mikaela Shiffrin – The Veteran’s Golden Moment

Mikaela Shiffrin, already a household name in alpine skiing, entered Beijing with the weight of history on her shoulders. Her record included eight World Cup victories and a World Championship gold in 2017. Many expected her to go for a clean sweep of the slalom and giant slalom titles.

Shiffrin delivered, but not in the way many imagined. In the slalom, she skated a blistering 1:18.54, edging out silver‑medal favorite Petra Vonderlinden by 0.19 seconds to claim the gold medal. The race was a dramatic duel between Shiffrin and her teammate, Jordan Stolz, who finished fourth. Shiffrin’s win capped an event in which the U.S. swept the podium for the first time in Olympic history, with Austrian Bernadette Pfeil taking bronze.

Shiffrin’s success was a testament to her mastery of the slalom’s complex turns and her mental fortitude. In the post‑race press conference, she noted the importance of training in “real‑world” conditions: “We’re racing in a stadium where everyone’s watching, but we’re used to that. It’s all about the rhythm.” Her victory, coupled with a bronze medal in the giant slalom, cemented her legacy as one of the sport’s all‑time greats.

Jordan Stolz – The Dark Horse Who Defied Expectations

Jordan Stolz’s story is perhaps the most compelling. A first‑time Olympian from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Stolz entered Beijing as an underdog. She had made her World Cup debut only a year earlier and had not yet achieved a podium finish. Yet, in a season that demanded grit, she surprised everyone.

In the super‑combined, Stolz finished sixth, while in the slalom she made it into the top‑ten, finishing ninth overall. Though she did not capture a medal, her presence in the finals and her aggressive line choices were a major talking point. In a post‑race interview, Stolz said, “The goal was to finish, to get experience. If I can keep improving and make the podium next time, that’s all I can do.” She also highlighted the importance of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Federation’s “Road to Beijing” program, which offered targeted coaching and nutrition plans.

Stolz’s performance was significant for the team because she helped secure the United States’ presence in the finals of every discipline, adding depth to a squad that was already stacked with talent.

The Synergy That Ignited the Season

While each athlete achieved remarkable success on her own, it was the collective impact that truly ignited the U.S. alpine season. Together, the trio’s achievements broke a long streak of disappointment in alpine skiing and injected a sense of optimism into the team’s culture. The trio’s combined medal haul—one gold and one bronze for Shiffrin, a bronze for Liu, and a strong showing for Stolz—positioned the United States as a formidable force in the discipline.

The media coverage, fanfare, and social media buzz that followed amplified the story. Fans streamed the races, posted celebratory emojis, and coined phrases like “Triple Crown of the U.S.” The athletes’ social media accounts recorded hundreds of thousands of new followers. The United States Ski and Snowboard Federation reported that the exposure led to a spike in youth participation in alpine training camps.

Moreover, the trio’s performances prompted a re‑examination of U.S. training strategies. Analysts noted that the athletes’ success was tied to a “high‑intensity, low‑volume” approach that prioritized speed, technical precision, and mental conditioning. The federation has now adopted similar training modules for emerging athletes.

Looking Forward

The 2022 Winter Olympics have laid a foundation for future success. Alyssa Liu, who was only 19 at the time of her bronze, is already considered a top contender for next Olympic Games. Mikaela Shiffrin, now 32, continues to dominate on the World Cup circuit and is expected to add more gold to her already impressive medal tally. Jordan Stolz’s performance in Beijing has positioned her as a rising star whose next breakthrough could be imminent.

As the next Winter Games approach, the United States’ alpine team is better prepared, more cohesive, and more confident. The legacy of Liu, Shiffrin, and Stolz is not only measured in medals but in the culture of perseverance, teamwork, and innovation they have instilled in American skiing. Their story will continue to inspire the next generation of athletes who aim to carve their own paths down the world’s most challenging slopes.