CORTINA d’AMPEZZO, Italy ― There was no way the number could be right.

Next to Mikaela Shiffrin’s name was a 15, and it wasn’t her bib number.

The greatest slalom skier of all time had finished 15th in her run in the team combined, dropping her and Breezy Johnson to fourth place Tuesday, Feb. 10. It is shocking enough when Shiffrin isn’t on the podium after a slalom race, let alone being outside the top five.

But 15th? Aside from a few ‘did not finishes,’ that hasn’t happened in a slalom race in more than a decade, since before she won her first Olympic gold medal and rewrote the record book.

‘I was so inspired and proud of (Breezy),’ a somber Shiffrin said, referring to Johnson winning the downhill run two days after winning the Olympic downhill title. “And I was really taking that into my own mentality coming out for the solemn run and didn’t quite nail — I didn’t quite find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed.”

Shiffrin is never one to make excuses, and she wasn’t about to start now. Asked why she couldn’t find that comfort level, she said it’s a “feeling under the feet.” But what prompted that, she didn’t want to get into the details.

Besides, does it really matter? In a season when Shiffrin has been near-unbeatable in slalom races — she has won seven and been second in the other — she was third-to-last. A full second slower than Germany’s Emma Aicher, who had the fastest slalom run to boost her and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann to the silver medal.

‘It comes from a lot of different variables. It is a sport of fine margins and a lot of variables,” Shiffrin said. ‘This kind of thing happens more often than not in training where it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t quite feel comfortable enough.’

‘There’s a certain amount of luck when it goes right, but there’s also a feeling that I’m going to work to achieve for the slalom race coming up.”

But hanging over Shiffrin, like the clouds and snow that had descended over the Olimpia delle Tofane course, is the specter of Beijing.

Shiffrin won three medals, two of them gold, in her first two Olympics, and she went to the 2022 Winter Games favored to add a few more to her collection. Instead, she skied out of three races: the slalom, the giant slalom and the slalom portion of the individual combined. Her best individual finish was a ninth in the super-G.

It’s an aberration in her illustrious career, something to be written off as a fluke or the convergence of a perfect storm of circumstances. Especially since she hasn’t experienced anything like that since.

Until now.

In a race when other skiers were going all out, Shiffrin appeared almost tentative. Instead of her usual almost hypnotic rhythm that carries her from one gate right into the next, she seemed to be picking her way down the course.

‘It’s very specific in the conditions we saw today where it’s the first time that we’ve seen any conditions like that this season,’ Shiffrin said. ‘And I didn’t adjust to it, not yet. But that was a great opportunity to learn.’

It is far too soon to say that Shiffrin has a mental bloc about the Olympics. This is one race, and there is more potential for unexpected results in slalom than other disciplines. Austria’s Katharina Truppe, who is fourth in the slalom standings this season, was 13th. Switzerland’s Melanie Meillard, who was eighth in slalom last year, DNFd.

But there is a different standard for Shiffrin, whose 108 World Cup wins are more than any other skier, male or female, and a record that is unlikely to ever be broken. Fairly or not, until Shiffrin steps on an Olympic podium again, the doubts caused by Beijing will follow her.

‘The work we’ve done, I’ve been so prepared for so much, for all the slaloms this year,’ Shiffrin said. “So there’s something to learn from this day and I’m going to learn it.”

A bad day is sometimes just a bad day. At the Olympics, though, everything is magnified, and for no one more than Shiffrin.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), would not commit to pausing operations for the 2026 World Cup during a hearing on Tuesday, Feb 10.

Lyons was one of three senior immigration officials called to testify before the U.S. House Department of Homeland Security Committee.

It was the first hearing since federal law enforcement officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens last month in Minneapolis.

The incidents in Minneapolis occurred amid a widespread immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, which has impacted U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike.

With the U.S. set to serve as a co-host of the Men’s World Cup this summer, there have been concerns over how welcoming the country will be to visitors, as well as how it will treat some residents of the United States.

Even former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last month that he believes fans should avoid traveling to the United States for the tournament.

One of the U.S. lawmakers who expressed concern during the hearing on Tuesday was Rep. Nellie Pou, a New Jersey Democrat whose district includes MetLife Stadium, which will host eight matches during the World Cup, including the final.

‘My district will host World Cup matches and hundreds of thousands of visitors will come,’ Pou said during the hearing. ‘Visitors’ confidence is plummeting and jeopardizing the World Cup.’

Pou asked if Lyons and ICE would commit to pausing operations at World Cup games and ‘other FIFA-sanctioned public events.’

‘ICE, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, is a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup,’ Lyons responded. ‘We’re dedicated to securing that operation, and we’re dedicated to the security of all our participants as well as visitors.’

‘You realize that if they feel that they’re going to be wrongfully incarcerated or wrongfully pulled out, that’s going to hurt this entire process?’ Pou said. ‘I hope you realize that.’

Lyons replied, ‘Yes, ma’am, and ICE is dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event.’

Pou replied: ‘Without these assurances, our local communities and national reputations will indeed be (harmed).’

Lyons’ words echoed those of Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s 2026 World Cup task force.

In December, Giuliani was asked directly if the Trump administration would rule out conducting immigration raids at World Cup matches.

‘The president does not rule out anything that will help make American citizens safer,’ Giuliani replied.

It’s been a decade since the Rams franchise returned to Los Angeles from St. Louis. Only one player on the Rams’ 2025 roster had played for the franchise in St. Louis.

Today, he called it a career.

Right tackle Rob Havenstein announced on his Instagram page that he is retiring from the NFL after 11 years with the Rams franchise.

’11 years, 150+ starts, 4 time captain, 4 NFC West Championships, 2 NFC Championships and 1x Super Bowl Champion. What a ride it’s been! I can look back on my career and smile knowing I have given everything I had and more to the game I love,’ Havenstein wrote.

‘In saying that, I am officially retiring from the NFL.’

The then-St. Louis Rams selected Havenstein in the second round, No. 57 overall from Wisconsin in the 2015 NFL Draft.

He was in the same Rams draft class as running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Sean Mannion, who was recently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to be the team’s offensive coordinator.

‘Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and fans who have supported me and helped me over these past 11 years,’ Havenstein wrote. ‘I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015.’

Havenstein thanked his wife, Meaghan, and his parents.

‘I need to thank my wonderful wife [Meaghan] for being by my side the entire way,’ he wrote. ‘The support you have given me over the years can’t be put into words. But I see it every time I look at our 3 beautiful daughter’s faces. Love you always.

Mom and Dad, from when I picked up the game freshman year at Linganore, through my time at the University of Wisconsin, and still to this day you have supported me in every venture of life. I can’t thank you enough.’

Havenstein played in 148 games for the Rams over his 11 seasons in the league.

‘As this chapter ends, I couldn’t be more grateful, hopeful, and excited to see what comes next!’ he said.

Havenstein’s retirement leaves just two players from the 2015 St. Louis Rams still in the NFL: punter Johnny Hekker and quarterback Case Keenum. Hekker played for the Tennessee Titans and Keenum for the Chicago Bears in 2025.

Andrew Torgashev is becoming a household name as one of three Americans competing in the figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics. But he ate his way into one of the more distinct nicknames at the Milan Cortina Games.

As Torgashev completed his short program during the men’s individual skate on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the NBC broadcast made sure to highlight that the 24-year-old also goes by ‘The Pizza King.’ It’s even in his official Team USA bio and stems from an unorthodox ‘pizza diet’ a few years ago in which Torgashev ate pizza for 53 days in a row.

‘My relationship with pizza started (in) 2022,’ Torgashez said last month at U.S. Nationals. ‘I ended up losing weight and getting my quad toeloop back during this time. So it was successful. Since then, I’ve ramped down the amount of pizzas I eat.’

Whatever he’s doing seemed to be working in his first individual skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Torgashev notched a score of 88.94 and was in second place with the short program about halfway complete. He also won a gold medal representing the United States in the team event earlier this week.

Torgashev, when asked about his favorite pizza last month, said ‘barbecue chicken is awesome, and if you do like honey and prosciutto.’

— USA TODAY Sports reporter Jordan Mendoza contributed to this story

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Jackie Wiles is an Olympic bronze medalist in part because of Lindsey Vonn.

Vonn has helped support Wiles throughout her career, emotionally and financially. She even offered her a place to stay when Wiles was recovering from surgery in 2018.

‘I just felt honored she wanted to support me, on the hill and off the hill,’ Wiles said after she and Paula Moltzan won bronze in the team combined on Tuesday, Feb. 10. ‘She just became a great friend and role model. I think that is super cool, just the female empowerment that she embodies.’

Early in Wiles’ career, she and Vonn were at a training camp in New Zealand when Vonn learned Wiles wasn’t fully funded by the U.S. Ski Team. That meant Wiles was spending her own money to pay for training and travel and equipment, in a sport where none of those things are cheap.

Vonn personally gave Wiles money and also made her the first ambassador for the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which empowers and supports girls from underserved communities. In return, Wiles put the Lindsey Vonn Foundation logo on her helmet and did promotional events with Vonn for the organization.

Then, when Wiles blew out her left knee days before the Pyeongchang Olympics, Vonn put her up in her home while she recuperated.

‘I remember watching her compete in Pyeongchang and I was sitting on her couch after surgery,’ Wiles recalled.

When Vonn won a bronze in the downhill in Pyeongchang, it made the then-33-year-old the oldest woman to win an Olympic medal in Alpine skiing. Now that record belongs to Wiles, who is three months older than Vonn was in 2018.

Vonn and Wiles shared a World Cup podium last month, and finally got to be on the same Olympic team this year.

Vonn is out for the rest of the Olympics after crashing in the downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8, and suffering a complex tibial fracture. She said in an Instagram post that it will require ‘multiple surgeries to fix properly.’

‘She’s a lifelong friend,’ Wiles said. ‘I’m super grateful she’s been part of my life for so long.’

Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid decided last week the gesture would be stronger if he admitted his mistake to everyone on television as an Olympic medalist at the 2026 Winter Games.

So there he was at the finish line, in front of a camera from Norway’s NRK Television on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in Anterselva, Italy, after winning a bronze medal in the 20-kilometer biathlon final, telling his country ‒ and the world, as it’s turned out ‒ that he recently cheated on ‘the love of my life.’

This Norwegian love triangle played out on the international sporting stage, with Lægreid quickly in tears as he confessed on air, explaining how the circumstances affected his performance and his desire to restore the relationship.

‘There is someone who may not be watching today. Half a year ago, I met the love of my life, the world’s most beautiful, finest person,’ Lægreid said, according to a NRK transcript translated into English by Google Translate, ‘and three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her.’

‘I had a gold medal in my life,’ he continued. ‘There are probably many now who look at me with different eyes, but I only have eyes for her. I don’t quite know what I want to achieve by saying it here now, but sport has taken second place in recent days. I wish I could share it with her.’

Lægreid, 28, is also a former gold medalist in the biathlon relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics and he’s a six-time former world champion in biathlon since 2021. But he said the guilt from his transgressions affected his preparation in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina Games. Lægreid declined to name the person he was discussing during the interview, though he revealed that he told her of his infidelity last week.

At the end of the conversation, the Norwegian reporter asked Lægreid if he had considered what this person might think now that he had told all of Norway what he had done. ‘Maybe I ruined myself now to get her back,’ Lægreid conceded, according to Google Translate.

‘It hurts to admit when you do something you cannot stand for and hurt someone you love so much. But such is life now,’ he said. ‘I had a chance at true love and turned out so amazing. It is not certain that it can be forgiven. But if this can give me a tiny chance to tell her how much I love her, I’d rather commit social suicide on live TV just to get that small chance.’

Francisco Lindor has a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, New York Mets president David Stearns said Feb. 10, and the All-Star shortstop is expected to miss six weeks, putting his status for Opening Day in doubt.

Lindor, 32, had already been ruled out of competing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic due to insurance concerns regarding past offseason surgeries, but Stearns said this injury emerged recently and wasn’t part of the WBC decision. Lindor will see a hand specialist Feb. 11, says Stearns, which should determine whether Lindor requires surgery.

Hitters often have surgery to remove the hamate bone once it fractures, with recoveries ranging from a few weeks to a couple of months. Lindor is coming off his fifth All-Star season, and the fourth consecutive year he’s finished in the National League’s top 10 in MVP voting.

‘Knowing Francisco, I’m optimistic, even if he has to go the surgery route,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said on a video call with news reporters. ‘Found out a couple days ago and didn’t think much of it because this is a guy who’s played through a lot. For him to say something this early, I was like, hmm.

‘But if he has to go that route, I’m optimistic he’ll play shortstop for us on Opening Day.’

Meanwhile, Mendoza confirmed that Juan Soto will move from right to left field this year, a move that evolved from conversations they had about him playing left for the Dominican Republic in next month’s WBC.

The Mets acquired Luis Robert to play center field, and Soto − in the second year of a 15-year, $765 million contract − might be better suited for left, anyway. Former center fielder Tyrone Taylor and rookie Carson Benge are, for now, expected to command most of the playing time in right field.

‘I asked him, ‘How would you feel playing left field for us?’ Mendoza said. ‘He said, ‘I’m willing to do whatever. If you want me to pitch, Mendy, I’ll pitch.’ I asked if it made sense for both.

‘He said, ‘Absolutely.”

The Mets won 83 games but missed out on a playoff berth by one game last season.