When Jackie Wiles descended the Olympic downhill course in northern Italy last Tuesday, her teammate Paula Moltzan could barely contain her anxiety. The Prior Lake native found herself transformed from competitor to fervent spectator, channeling every ounce of nervous energy into vocal support for her colleague.
"I was freaking out the whole time. I was talking to her as if she could hear me," Moltzan revealed during an interview with NBC's "Today" program, her voice still carrying the emotion of the moment. "I was like 'C'mon Jackie, you've got this.' I was shaking. I was sweating."
Wiles ultimately delivered a stellar performance under immense pressure, clocking the fourth-fastest time in the downhill segment of the women's team combined event. This crucial result positioned Moltzan perfectly for her slalom run and set the stage for a historic moment. The duo was suddenly on the verge of capturing the first Olympic medal for either skier, a dream that had fueled years of dedication and sacrifice.
Yet standing between them and the podium was one of the most decorated athletes in alpine skiing history. After Moltzan completed her slalom run with the fourth-quickest time, only Mikaela Shiffrin remained as the final obstacle. Shiffrin, partnered with Breezy Johnson who had posted the fastest downhill time, held a commanding advantage. However, in a stunning turn of events, Shiffrin faltered in the slalom, finishing 15th in that discipline. This unexpected performance dropped her and Johnson to fourth place, a mere .06 seconds off the podium, and catapulted Moltzan and Wiles onto the medal stand with a hard-earned bronze medal.
For Moltzan, this bronze medal represented far more than a piece of hardware—it was the culmination of a lifelong dream forged on the slopes of Minnesota. Born to two ski instructors, she was essentially destined for the sport, first strapped to skis as a toddler. Her formative years were spent honing her craft at Buck Hill in Burnsville, a modest 310-foot vertical drop in the Minnesota River Valley that has improbably produced an impressive lineage of skiing talent, including Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. It was on these humble slopes that Moltzan developed the foundational skills, discipline, and passion that would eventually take her to the pinnacle of the sport.
Her journey, however, has been anything but the linear progression often assumed of elite athletes. Recognizing her burgeoning potential, Moltzan made the difficult decision during high school to relocate to Vail, Colorado with her father, sacrificing a normal teenage experience to pursue her Olympic aspirations. This bold move demonstrated extraordinary commitment but also exposed her to the harsh realities and intense competition of elite-level ski racing.
In a sport where funding, resources, and team selection can be brutally selective, Moltzan faced a significant professional setback when she was cut from the U.S. Ski Team. Rather than surrendering to disappointment or abandoning her dreams, she used this rejection as powerful fuel, doubling down on her training and competing independently to prove her worth. This resilience has become a defining characteristic of her career, transforming adversity into motivation and doubt into determination.
Her perseverance has paid substantial dividends. Heading into the Milan-Cortina Games, Moltzan boasts an impressive fourth-place ranking in the overall FIS Alpine Ski World Cup standings. Her legendary teammate Mikaela Shiffrin occupies the top position, making Moltzan's standing among the world's elite even more remarkable. This ranking reflects not just raw talent, but remarkable consistency at the highest level of competition across multiple disciplines and venues throughout the grueling World Cup season.
The current Olympics mark Moltzan's second appearance on sport's grandest stage. Her debut at the Beijing Games four years ago provided invaluable experience, though it fell short of her medal ambitions. She finished eighth in the slalom and 12th in the giant slalom, respectable results that hinted at her potential but left her hungry for more. The team event also ended in heartbreak, with the United States finishing fourth—just shy of the podium, a result that undoubtedly fueled her determination for Milan-Cortina.
This time, however, she arrives at her individual events with hardware already secured and validation in hand. The psychological impact of this achievement cannot be overstated for an athlete competing at the Olympic level. "I feel like actually after getting a medal with Jackie (Tuesday), I feel like I can take a deep breath and really just like focus on my competition and think about how the skiing is going to go and let go of the fact that the medal pressure is not really there anymore," she explained on "Today."
This newfound mental freedom could prove decisive as she prepares for her remaining competitions. Moltzan is scheduled to compete in the giant slalom on Sunday, followed by the slalom on Wednesday—the latter being her specialty discipline where she has experienced the most success throughout her career. With the weight of expectation lifted, she can focus purely on her technique, tactics, and performance rather than the overwhelming pressure that often leads to tentative skiing.
The giant slalom presents an excellent opportunity for Moltzan to showcase her improved versatility. While she has historically excelled in slalom, her giant slalom skiing has shown marked improvement this season, contributing significantly to her high World Cup standing. The technical demands of giant slalom require a different approach than the quick, rhythmic turns of slalom, testing a skier's ability to maintain speed through longer, more sweeping arcs.
Wednesday's slalom event, however, remains her strongest medal prospect and the competition she has likely visualized most throughout her career. The discipline demands precision, agility, quick reflexes, and nerves of steel—qualities Moltzan has consistently demonstrated throughout her career. Her fourth-place finish in the team combined slalom segment suggests she's skiing with confidence, speed, and the technical proficiency necessary to challenge the world's best. Without the pressure of "needing" a medal, she may find the freedom to take the calculated risks that separate podium finishers from the rest of the field.
Moltzan's story resonates far beyond the insular ski racing community. It represents the classic American narrative of perseverance, self-belief, and redemption against the odds. From being cut by the national team to standing on an Olympic podium, her journey embodies the powerful idea that setbacks are merely setups for comebacks. Her Minnesota roots add another compelling layer to this story—a reminder that world-class talent can emerge from unexpected places, not just traditional mountain states with massive vertical and endless powder.
The significance of her achievement extends to her hometown community. Prior Lake, a suburban community southwest of the Twin Cities, can now claim an Olympic medalist—a source of immense local pride and inspiration for young athletes in the region. Buck Hill, often overlooked compared to mountain West training facilities, can point to yet another success story from its slopes, validating the quality of coaching and training available even in the relatively flat Midwest.
As Moltzan looks ahead to her individual events, the entire U.S. ski team benefits from her momentum and positive energy. Olympic success is contagious within a team environment, and her bronze medal performance may inspire teammates to elevate their own skiing and belief. The team dynamic in alpine skiing is unique—while athletes ultimately compete individually, they train together daily, share technical insights, and draw energy from each other's achievements.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics have already proven memorable for American alpine skiing, with Moltzan's medal adding to the program's legacy. These Games represent a passing of the torch of sorts, with established stars like Shiffrin competing alongside proven veterans like Moltzan who represent the present and future of the program. At 29 years old, Moltzan finds herself in the prime of her career, perfectly positioned to capitalize on her experience, technical refinement, and current form.
Weather and course conditions will play crucial roles in the upcoming events. The Italian Alps have presented variable conditions throughout the Games, challenging athletes to adapt to changing snow, visibility, and temperature fluctuations. Moltzan's extensive experience on the World Cup circuit, where she faces diverse venues and conditions weekly, should serve her well. Her ability to read snow conditions and adjust tactics mid-run distinguishes elite skiers from the pack.
Technical preparation aside, the mental game often determines Olympic outcomes. Moltzan's comment about releasing medal pressure reveals a mature, evolved approach to competition psychology. By already achieving her primary goal of winning any Olympic medal, she has removed the psychological burden that can lead to tentative, mistake-ridden skiing when it matters most.
The giant slalom on Sunday will be her first individual test and an opportunity to build momentum. Moltzan will compete against the best technical skiers on the planet, including her teammate Shiffrin, who has dominated the discipline for years. A strong performance would build crucial momentum heading into her signature event.
Wednesday's slalom represents the culmination of her Olympic program and likely her best chance for individual hardware. The discipline has been her primary focus throughout her career, and a podium finish would cement her status among the world's elite technical skiers. The field will be extraordinarily deep and competitive, with specialists from Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, and other traditional alpine powers all vying for medal positions.
Regardless of the outcomes in these individual events, Moltzan's bronze medal ensures these Games will be remembered as an unequivocal success. She has already achieved what countless athletes dream of but never accomplish. Yet competitors of her caliber always want more, and the opportunity to add to her medal collection is tantalizingly close.
As she prepares for Sunday's giant slalom, the skiing world will be watching to see if she can translate her team success into individual glory. The Prior Lake native now stands among the world's best with a medal around her neck and two more chances to add to her Olympic legacy. Her journey from Buck Hill to the Olympic podium serves as inspiration for aspiring skiers everywhere that with talent, perseverance, and belief, anything is possible.