Olympic Skier Breezy Johnson Celebrates Engagement After 2026 Winter Games Finale
American alpine skier Breezy Johnson has concluded her 2026 Winter Olympics journey with a remarkable personal milestone, becoming engaged to her longtime boyfriend Connor Watkins immediately after her final race in Cortina d'Ampezzo. This heartwarming development follows Johnson's triumphant gold medal victory in the women's downhill event earlier in the week, capping an emotionally charged Olympic experience for the Team USA athlete.
Surprise Proposal Follows Super-G Race Incident
During Thursday's super-G competition, Johnson's Olympic campaign ended abruptly when she caught her right pole on a gate and crashed heavily into the safety fencing, forcing her out of the race. However, an unexpected and joyous moment awaited her at the finish line. Watkins, who had been planning the proposal for some time, surprised Johnson with a diamond engagement ring featuring a distinctive blue stone set on a silver band.
The romantic gesture was enhanced by a personalized touch: the ring box was engraved with a Taylor Swift lyric reading, "Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?" Johnson, visibly emotional, accepted the proposal tearfully, transforming what could have been a disappointing conclusion into a celebratory occasion.
Emotional Reactions from the Newly Engaged Couple
In an interview with Today, Johnson reflected on the whirlwind of emotions, stating, "When you make mistakes like that in ski racing you kind of feel stupid and you just kind of want to go talk to your friends and family. And, yeah, seeing him [Watkins] was really exciting. And then just everything else is crazy." She was among approximately twelve racers who either crashed or skied off course during the challenging super-G event.
Watkins also shared his perspective with the outlet, revealing his nervousness about the proposal, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Johnson's race performance. "It's an incredibly surreal experience," he explained. "I'd been really nervous. Every time she goes down the hill, I'm nervous, right? ... She got up after the crash. It was good, and that was a sigh of relief. And then my heart started racing again, because I knew I was about to go and get down on my own knee and propose."
Gold Medal Victory Overshadowed by Teammate's Crash
Johnson's engagement comes just days after she secured the Olympic gold medal in the women's downhill, a victory that was bittersweet due to a serious crash involving her teammate and friend, skiing legend Lindsey Vonn. During the downhill event, Vonn, who has won a record twelve World Cups at the Cortina d'Ampezzo course, overshot a turn and caught her shoulder on the fourth gate at high speed.
The impact destabilized Vonn, causing her previously injured left leg—where she had torn her ACL during pre-Olympic training—to give way. Medical personnel attended to her promptly, and she was stretchered off the course before being airlifted to a nearby hospital. The competition was paused for approximately twenty minutes before resuming.
Johnson, deeply affected by Vonn's accident, was emotional throughout the latter part of the race. She later expressed her sympathy, saying, "My heart aches for her. It's a tough road, and it's a tough sport. That's the beauty and the madness of it, that it can hurt you so badly but you keep coming back for more." Her gold medal achievement was thus tempered by concern for her fellow competitor.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have proven to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows for Breezy Johnson, encompassing both professional triumph and personal joy. From standing atop the podium as an Olympic champion to accepting a marriage proposal after a dramatic race conclusion, Johnson's Olympic narrative underscores the unpredictable and poignant nature of elite sports.
