Pop superstar Taylor Swift joined millions worldwide in applauding U.S. alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin's triumphant return to the Olympic podium, hailing her record-breaking slalom gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as "HISTORIC" on social media.

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Shiffrin, 30, captured gold in the women's slalom on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo with a commanding combined time of 1:39.10 — 1.50 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Camille Rast (silver) and 1.71 seconds clear of Sweden's Anna Swenn-Larsson (bronze). The margin marked the largest in any Olympic alpine event since 1998.

The victory ended an eight-year Olympic medal drought for Shiffrin, whose last podium came with silver in the combined at PyeongChang 2018. It also delivered her third career Olympic gold — matching her 2014 Sochi slalom triumph and 2018 giant slalom win — making her the first U.S. skier to claim three Olympic golds and the most decorated American alpine skier with four medals total (tying Julia Mancuso). Globally, she became the first individual Winter Olympian to win gold in the same event 12 years apart and the only American woman to repeat Olympic alpine gold over such a span. At 30, she also became the oldest U.S. woman to win Olympic alpine gold, having previously been the youngest at 18 in Sochi.

Shiffrin posted a photo from her winning run on Instagram, captioning it with lyrics from Swift's track "Ruin the Friendship" off her latest album *The Life of a Showgirl*: "My advice is always ruin the friendship." The line reflected Shiffrin's mindset of pushing past criticism, self-doubt and external pressure to commit fully to her performance.

Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner often called the "Opalite" singer in fan circles for her ethereal aesthetic, quickly responded in the comments: "HISTORIC 🥇🥇🥇." Shiffrin reposted the interaction to her Instagram Story with a stunned "Ummmm" and starstruck emojis, delighting fans who dubbed the exchange a "Swiftie-Olympian crossover" moment.

The nod resonated deeply given Shiffrin's well-known fandom. She rented a suite for Swift's Denver Eras Tour stop in July 2023, bringing U.S. Ski teammates along. Swift has long supported athletes, including inspirational pre-Games messages for Team USA, where she praised their "sacrifice, determination, hard work and passion."

Shiffrin's path to redemption unfolded dramatically. She opened the Games without a podium in the team combined (fourth) and giant slalom (11th), extending a personal 0-for-8 Olympic streak since 2018. Yet in her signature event, she built an 0.82-second lead after the first run and sealed victory with a flawless second descent. Post-race, she described the win as bringing "peace," crediting personal growth from past setbacks — including the 2022 Beijing disappointment and the 2019 death of her father, Jeff — for a more grounded approach.

"This morning I was awake at 4:30 and my first thought was, 'gosh, why can't I sleep longer?'" Shiffrin told reporters. "It's been some moments of disbelief." She dedicated the medal to her late father and emphasized mental resilience: "I felt proud before it happened."

The triumph elevated Shiffrin's legacy beyond records. With 108 World Cup wins (the all-time high), multiple Crystal Globes and 19 World Championship medals, she stands as alpine skiing's GOAT. Her 2026 slalom gold — her second in the discipline — underscored versatility and longevity.

Fans and media celebrated the cross-cultural moment. Social posts exploded with heart emojis and "Taylor 🤝 Mikaela" memes. Billboard called it "Golden Game Recognize Golden Game," while outlets highlighted how Shiffrin's quote choice perfectly captured her fearless mindset.

As the Milano Cortina Games wind down, Shiffrin's story of perseverance inspires. Swift's endorsement amplified the narrative, bridging music and sport in a feel-good highlight. For Shiffrin, the gold represents not just hardware but freedom from past burdens — a fitting cap to an extraordinary Olympic chapter.