Mikaela Shiffrin from the United States celebrates after finishing women's giant slalom of alpine skiing at Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre, PyeongChang, South Korea, Feb. 15, 2018. Mikaela Shiffrin claimed champion in a time of 2:20.02. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)

PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- American Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin took away the women's giant slalom gold medal at PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games here on Thursday.

Shiffrin came back from second position after the first run to clock a competition-best time of 2 minutes and 20.02 seconds.

"I don't know how to explain it. It's crazy. There's so much emotion," Shiffrin said following her victory.

"It's the Olympics but I still, I have a lot of events to do still, I have the slalom race tomorrow, so I have to refocus my energy, but to come to the Olympics after some tough races on the World Cup circuit and, you know, to charge like that. I risked it on the second run. It's super cool," she added.

Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway was placed second, 0.39 seconds behind Shiffrin. The bronze medal went to Italian Federica Brignone, who finished in 2:20.48.

Shiffrin, gold medalist in Sochi 2014, will go out to defend her title in slalom on Friday. She can become the first Alpine skier, male or female, to win successive Olympic gold medals in the slalom.