The U.S. ski icon exuded pride and defiance after she ended her Olympic slump with gold.

Shiffrin was terrified of celebrating joy without her father. What would that moment be like? How bad will it hurt? When you lose someone so close to you, Shiffrin said after winning gold, “everything in life that you do … is like a new experience.

The American skiing star talked with "TODAY" about how she spent her night after winning her first Olympic gold medal since 2014.