Breezy Johnson claims downhill gold, first for Team USA at Cortina 2026

Breezy Johnson takes gold at the Women's Downhill event in Milano Cortina 2026 Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

At the post-race press conference, Johnson was asked about Vonn's crash. She shared their coach told her Vonn was cheering for her from the helicopter as she was being airlifted off the mountain

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Breezy Johnson stormed down the Olimpia delle Tofane on Sunday to win Olympic gold in the women’s downhill, claiming the first medal for Team USA at these 2026 Winter Games.

The reigning World Champion, and graduate of Rowmark ski academy in Salt Lake City, kicked out of the starting gate wearing bib six posted a winning time of 1:36.10 — a mark no one could catch. Johnson’s run was not perfect, but it was gutsy as she attacked the technical section at the top and used her gliding skills to post the fastest split times on the bottom section, where others struggled to create speed.

“I felt like it was solid,” she said in the finish area after the race. “There were definitely some places that weren’t the best, but I hoped that it would be enough. I just tried to keep it rolling. I knew it was fast.”

When she crossed the finish line, Johnson believed she had done enough — at least for the podium.

“I was pretty sure that it would be enough for a medal,” she said.

When her was was apparent, Johnson stood in the finish area, bouncing with excitement, so much so that her gold medal snapped from it’s ribbon.

“It was definitely heavy, heavier than I expected,” Johnson said of the gold medal. “I think that’s maybe why it broke.”

Germany’s Emma Aicher took silver, just 0.07 seconds back, while Italy’s Sofia Goggia earned bronze for the home crowd at 0.18 behind. Jackie Wiles narrowly missed the podium in fourth, with Bella Wright finishing 21st for the Americans.

The celebration, however, was bittersweet. Lindsey Vonn, who came out of retirement for a final Olympic chapter, crashed seconds into her run and was taken off the course for treatment. Vonn attacked the course out of the gate but just seconds into her run Vonn caught her right arm on a gate, pulling her back as she charged through the sidehill terrain. The crowd went silent as medical staff rushed to her attention and the race was held for approximately 30 minutes before resuming.

At the post-race press conference, Johnson was asked about Vonn’s crash. She shared that their coach told her Vonn was cheering for her from the helicopter as she was being airlifted off the mountain.

“I don’t claim to know what she’s going through,” Johnson said. “But I do know what it is to be here, to be fighting for the Olympics, and to have this course burn you. It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life. I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through. The physical pain we can deal with. The emotional pain is something else.”

Bronze medalist Goggia also wished the best for Vonn and explained how the long course hold played a key mental factor in the race.

“I think today was really a good run, because the situation was getting not so good,” Goggia said, pointing to warm temperatures at the start and lengthy intervals between racers that stretched beyond two and a half minutes. “We had to wait … maybe half an hour, more or less something like this. And maybe also the condition changes. It was not easy to handle. It was really a mental challenge.”

Goggia said she relied on preparation and discipline to stay composed during the delays, using breathing techniques and cognitive exercises to remain focused.

“I was really focused on myself. I haven’t watched any athletes,” she said. “I had my lines and the strategy. So I’m happy with the outcome.”

Johnson’s climb to the top did not come without hardship

Johnson’s Olympic win rounded out an elusive double gold achievement – she now holds both a World Championship gold and coveted Olympic gold. Johnson also became just the second American woman to win Olympic downhill gold, joining Vonn, who captured the title in the Vancouver games in 2010.

The gold medal was the latest milestone in a career she described as anything but linear.

“People are jealous of people with Olympic gold medals,” she said. “They’re not necessarily jealous of the journey it took to get those medals.”

Johnson has endured injuries and setbacks over the years, at times watching Olympic dreams dissolve on the same slopes she now conquered.

“It’s been a tough road, but sometimes you just have to keep going because that’s the only option,” she said. “If you’re going through hell, you keep walking, because you don’t want to just sit around in hell. And sometimes, when you keep going, maybe you’ll make it back to the top.”

Johnson said she tried to treat the Olympic downhill like any other race.

“I’m grateful. We’re staying at a hotel. The U.S. Ski Team paid a boatload of money for us to do so, and I’m really grateful for that because it allows me to keep the moment small,” she said. “It’s just another race.”

At the start, her mindset did not change.

“It’s just a run. You just have to ski. You can’t do anything different. You know what the best skiing is.”

Equipment decisions also followed that philosophy. With limited training runs, Johnson and her team opted for familiar skis rather than experimenting.

“We went with what we knew worked,” she said.

Even amid celebration, Johnson remained focused on what comes next. The women’s team combined is approaching, and she expressed excitement about pairing speed and technical racers in the format.

“I’m really excited for the team combined,” she said. “It’s a great way to combine the two different sides of the women’s team, and I think we’re all really excited for it.”

As for celebrating the biggest win of her career?

Johnson laughed. She had eaten strudel mid-morning and a few Sour Patch Kids at the start.

“I don’t know what I’m doing in five minutes,” she said. “Hopefully lunch.”

The gold medal may be heavy. The road to it was heavier. But on Sunday in Cortina, Johnson carried both to the top of the podium.

Michele Roepke contributed to this reporting from the Olimpia delle Tofane, Cortina d’Ampezzo.