Tim Layden

Of all the forces that slowed Mikaela Shiffrin and then empowered her to win another Olympic gold medal, one stands out: Grief. On Wednesday she set herself free. Column for @NBCOlympics @NBCSports nbcolympics.com/news/slalom-go…

A summary of stats for Shiffrin - a couple from @nzaccardi Mikaela Shiffrin wins the slalom by 1.50 seconds, the largest margin in any Olympic Alpine skiing event since 1998. She is the first U.S. skier to win three Olympic gold medals and both the youngest (2014, 18) and oldest (2026, 30) U.S. woman to win Alpine gold. Mikaela Shiffrin wins women's slalom gold by 1.50 seconds - largest margin in the event since 1988 when Vreni Schneider (SUI) won by 1.68 seconds. First USA skier to win the slalom twice, only second overall after Schneider. Shiffrin’s 2 golds 12 years apart would be the largest gap ever between individual gold medals in the same event at the Winter Olympics. Only 4 others have won golds in the same event after a gap of 12 years, all in team events. Second USA woman to win 4 Alpine skiing medals – after Julia Mancuso.

U.S. speed skater Jordan Stolz, who could win four medals and talks about eventually duplicating Heiden 1980 (iykyk), starts tomorrow with the 1000 meters. Here's the deep dive I wrote on him for @NBCSports @NBCOlympics . nbcsports.com/olympics/news/…