Olympic downhill champion Breezy Johnson will depart Italy with both a gold medal and an engagement ring, following a heartfelt proposal from her longtime boyfriend, Connor Watkins, at the finish line in Cortina on Thursday. This romantic gesture came shortly after Johnson's bid for a podium finish in the women's super-G ended abruptly with a crash.
A Disappointing Race Leads to a Joyful Moment
Johnson, 30, experienced a setback in the super-G when her right pole clipped a gate high on the course, sending her tumbling into the catch fence. Despite the fall, she quickly pulled herself to her feet, unharmed, allowing Watkins to proceed with his carefully planned proposal. Surrounded by members of the US Ski Team, the American athlete enthusiastically said 'Yes!' before embracing Watkins and showcasing her new ring—a stunning blue sapphire encircled by white sapphires, set in white gold.
Planning and Personal Touches
Watkins revealed he had been planning the moment for a year, describing it as having 'gone above and beyond our wildest imagination.' In addition to the ring, he presented Johnson with a piece of wood carved with the lyrics: 'Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?' from Taylor Swift's hit song 'The Alchemy.' Johnson admitted she had anticipated the proposal, having previously shared that getting engaged at the Olympics was her 'dream,' though she had hoped it would follow a gold medal victory.
'I mean, that was my hope!' Johnson told NBC News. 'But it's definitely a lot more crazy with everything just happening all at once, and the reality of it is so different than the way you imagined, and so much better.'
Olympic Achievements and Background
While Johnson did not secure a medal in the super-G, she made history earlier in the week by winning the women's downhill on Sunday, joining Lindsey Vonn as the only American female to achieve this feat and capturing her first Olympic gold medal. She then missed out on a second medal in the team combined event on Tuesday before Thursday's crash. The couple plans to celebrate with family and friends in Cortina before traveling to Livigno, the site of other Olympic competitions.
Advocacy and Personal Journey
In 2022, Johnson publicly came out as bisexual, posting on social media about her desire to 'be open about who I am.' She wrote on Instagram: 'To those [LGBTQ+] people out there who feel a little different and want to see people like them at the top I am here to represent that we are out there, we are normal, and we can do whatever we want.' She added a message to critics: 'To the trolls who want to hate, hate doesn't beat love. To those who have no idea what I'm saying, head over to Google if ya want to know.'
This engagement marks a poignant chapter in Johnson's Olympic story, blending athletic pursuit with personal joy amidst the highs and lows of competition.
