MILAN — In Milan, an athlete from the United States celebrated exuberantly at the conclusion of her downhill ski run, having achieved the top time among female competitors. However, this victor was not the individual who had garnered extensive media attention recently for her courageous attempt to race despite a significant leg injury.
Breezy Johnson secured the Olympic gold medal this Sunday, demonstrating such audacious speed that she recovered from veering off course during several mid-run turns. Her margin of victory against Germany’s Emma Aicher, who placed second, was a mere four-hundredths of a second—clocking in at 1:36.10 compared to Aicher’s 1:36.14—a difference shorter than a quick gesture or a rapid eye movement. The bronze medal went to Sofia Goggia from Italy.
Johnson now stands alongside Lindsey Vonn as one of only two American women to have ever claimed Olympic gold in the downhill skiing event.
“I felt optimistic about today’s race,” she commented. “I’m still struggling to fully process it, so I’m unsure when it will truly register. I’ll inform you when it does.”
Nevertheless, Johnson’s moment of triumph was tinged with sorrow as Vonn’s pursuit of Olympic success ended in disaster. Vonn, aged 41 and widely known to be competing with a torn ACL sustained only nine days prior, struck a gate with her right pole early in her descent, lost control, and fell in a crumpled tangle.
While Vonn lay distressed on the snow, receiving urgent attention from medical staff, Johnson visibly expressed dismay, shaking her head and covering her face with her hand. Later, when television crews focused on Johnson during the event, she maintained a quiet demeanor, even as her victory became undeniable.
“I feel great sympathy for her,” Johnson stated afterwards, addressing questions about Vonn. “I sincerely hope her injury is not as severe as it appeared.”
Yet, by the time the medal presentation commenced, Johnson seemed more prepared emotionally to revel in her accomplishment. She lifted both arms skyward upon ascending the podium and subsequently pointed with delight at the gold medal adorning her neck.
For Johnson, this Olympic gold represents the culmination of a challenging path marked by both struggles and significant triumphs. Johnson, at 30 years old, has frequently been regarded as the successor to Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, though there were periods when her ability to fulfill that promising role seemed uncertain.
Four years prior, Johnson was forced to observe the Beijing Olympics remotely, due to injuries she incurred during a severe training accident in Cortina—the very location of Sunday’s downhill race, ironically. Prior to that incident, she had been performing at the top tier of global downhill skiers and seemed poised for a medal contention.
Breezy Johnson of United States celebrates with her coaches and team after winning the women’s downhill, as she sits on their shoulders. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)
(REUTERS / REUTERS)
Furthermore, Johnson received a suspension for the entirety of the 2023-24 season due to what the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency labeled a whereabouts infraction. Competitors must declare their location so anti-doping authorities can conduct random testing; Johnson, however, failed to report for three tests, a lapse she asserts was accidental.
Since her return to competitive skiing, Johnson has progressively resembled her former self, the athlete anticipated to frequently stand on medal podiums. She holds the current world championship title in women’s downhill and mentioned arriving at these Olympic Games feeling “as fit as I’ve been since sustaining my injury prior to the previous Olympics.”
This was evident.
As the sixth competitor to descend the slope, Johnson faced a prolonged wait, watching to determine if her leading time would be surpassed by the subsequent 30 racers. Television footage captured her dramatically exhaling in relief when Aicher experienced minor stumbles near the end of her run, which ultimately determined the outcome between the gold and silver medals.
Jacqueline Wiles, the third American participant in the women’s downhill, secured a fourth-place finish, just missing a medal.
Johnson’s medal marks the initial one for the United States during the current Olympic Games.
Throughout the entire week, she has been largely overlooked. Even presently, her achievements are still somewhat eclipsed, yet she has earned the title of Olympic champion.
