American Skier Breezy Johnson Claims Gold in Women’s Downhill at Milano Cortina Winter Games

American skier Breezy Johnson has brought home the first gold medal for Team USA at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, securing victory in the women’s downhill competition. Her win came against the backdrop of a challenging race, especially after her teammate Lindsey Vonn suffered a crash.

Johnson, aged 30, was the sixth skier to tackle the course and was amongst the four American competitors. After speeding down the renowned Olympia delle Tofana course on a sunny day in Cortina, she stopped the clock at 1:36.10, earning her first Olympic medal. Chrisophe Pallot / Agence Zoom / Getty Images captured Johnson in action during the event.

The podium was completed with Emma Aicher from Germany and Sofia Goggia from Italy taking the remaining spots. Johnson’s win marks her as the second American woman to ever capture gold in the Olympic downhill skiing event, the first being Vonn at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Overcome with emotion, Johnson shared her sentiments upon receiving her medal amidst the sound of the national anthem.

“I had a good feeling about today. I sort of still can’t believe it yet,” Johnson expressed. “I don’t know when it will sink in.”

Johnson’s journey to this achievement has been anything but straightforward. She’s battled setbacks, having missed the 2022 Beijing Olympics due to a knee injury. Compounding her challenges, she faced a 14-month suspension, which ended in December 2024, for missing three anti-doping tests and falling afoul of whereabouts regulations. Nonetheless, she made a remarkable return by clinching the world championship title last February.

In contrast, Vonn, who entered the competition as a favorite for gold, faced a devastating crash just 13.4 seconds into her descent. Losing control after a tight line on the opening traverse, she was seen spinning in the air, later heard screaming from the pain. Medical crews promptly attended to her, and due to the severity, she was airlifted away, a standard protocol in alpine skiing for significant injuries.

“I hope it’s not as bad as it looked,” Johnson reflected. “Sometimes, because you love this course so much, when you crash on it and it hurts you like that, it hurts that much worse. My heart just goes out to her.”

Among the other American competitors, Jacqueline Wiles secured the 5th position, while Isabella Wright finished 21st. This report includes contributions from the Associated Press and Haley Ott.

Overall, the Milano Cortina Winter Games witnessed a heartfelt victory for Breezy Johnson and a challenging moment for Lindsey Vonn, marking a day of mixed emotions for Team USA.