American Ski Star Shiffrin Captures Third Olympic Gold After 8-Year Wait

Delaware sports fans can celebrate as American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin ended her eight-year Olympic medal drought with a dominant slalom victory in Italy. The 30-year-old athlete delivered two spectacular runs to claim her third Olympic gold medal and cement her status as one of the greatest Alpine skiers in history.

American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has finally broken through her Olympic medal drought, capturing her third gold medal with a commanding slalom victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The 30-year-old athlete delivered two spectacular runs in pristine weather conditions surrounded by the stunning Dolomite mountains, demonstrating why many consider her the finest Alpine skier ever to compete.

Shiffrin’s triumph marked the third-largest winning margin in Olympic women’s slalom history, bringing her back to the top of the podium in the same event where she first claimed gold as an 18-year-old newcomer in Sochi 2014. After 12 years, she once again proved her mastery in her signature race, earning redemption following her disappointing performance in Beijing where she left empty-handed.

In hockey action, both the United States and Canada advanced to the Olympic semifinals after thrilling quarterfinal victories that required overtime. Quinn Hughes netted the game-winner for Team USA in their 2-1 triumph over Sweden, after Mika Zibanejad had tied the contest with just 91 seconds remaining in regulation. Dylan Larkin had scored the Americans’ only regulation goal off a deflection from Jack Hughes’ shot.

Meanwhile, Canada avoided a shocking elimination by defeating Czechia 4-3 in overtime. Nick Suzuki forced the extra period with a late equalizer, before Mitch Marner sealed the victory to keep Canadian hopes alive.

Major changes are coming to the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks have officially been put up for sale by Paul Allen’s estate. The announcement came Wednesday, less than two weeks after the franchise captured its second Super Bowl championship. Allen, who purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million from Ken Behring, was instrumental in ensuring the Seahawks remained in Seattle. The organization is expected to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with a stadium lease at Lumen Field running through 2032 plus three additional 10-year renewal options.

College basketball has seen several coaches take public criticism of their teams to new levels recently. Among those speaking out was Texas women’s coach Vic Schaefer, whose fourth-ranked team was described by him as having “no heart” following a defeat to fifth-ranked Vanderbilt. However, Schaefer later commended his players’ improved effort in a subsequent victory over Tennessee. Former Kansas State men’s coach Jerome Tang also made headlines before his recent dismissal. Florida State’s Luke Loucks explained that coaches must “find ways to squeeze the orange” when balancing tough motivation with supportive encouragement.

Baseball’s players union has promoted Bruce Meyer to serve as interim executive director following Tony Clark’s forced departure. The 64-year-old labor attorney, who joined the organization in 2018, received unanimous approval from the executive board during a virtual meeting. Matt Nussbaum was simultaneously elevated from general counsel to interim deputy executive director. Meyer previously guided negotiations through the 99-day work stoppage that resulted in the current five-year collective bargaining agreement in March 2022.

The Genesis Invitational returns to historic Riviera Country Club after last year’s relocation due to devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires. The century-old venue now features a dramatically extended fourth hole, with a new tee box stretching the par-3 to 273 yards – making it the longest regular par-3 on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy has called the modification “a horrible change,” though he remains eager to add Riviera to his list of tournament victories given the course’s prestigious reputation.

Green Bay basketball coach Doug Gottlieb received a one-game suspension from the Horizon League after his heated criticism of game officials following a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee. Gottlieb’s passionate postgame press conference, during which he slammed his hands on the table while questioning officiating consistency, went viral on social media platforms. He will miss Friday’s road game against Oakland and has since issued a public apology for his remarks.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice faces serious legal allegations as his former girlfriend has filed a lawsuit claiming he physically assaulted her repeatedly over 18 months. Dacoda Jones, who previously made accusations on social media, is seeking more than $1 million in damages through the Dallas County lawsuit filed Monday. The complaint details multiple incidents of violence at residences in both Dallas and the Kansas City suburbs, including an alleged strangulation in December 2023, with the abuse reportedly continuing through July 2025.

Shiffrin’s Olympic triumph came after she shifted her focus to rediscovering the pure enjoyment of skiing rather than dwelling on external pressures. The veteran athlete explained that learning to ignore outside noise and criticism allowed her to perform at her peak when it mattered most. Despite knowing that another failure would have invited more scrutiny, Shiffrin embraced the challenge and found the risk worthwhile in her pursuit of excellence.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball escaped injury Wednesday evening after his custom camouflage Hummer collided with another vehicle at a downtown Charlotte intersection. The accident occurred around 5 p.m., with television footage showing Ball, dressed in an aqua Hornets sweatshirt, exiting his damaged truck and departing in a different vehicle. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Associated Press that the point guard suffered no injuries, though official police reports were not immediately available.