Breezy Johnson Triumphs in Olympic Downhill as Lindsey Vonn Suffers Horror Crash
American skier Breezy Johnson has won the Olympic women's downhill title in Cortina d'Ampezzo, securing the first medal of the Games for Team USA on a day overshadowed by teammate Lindsey Vonn's serious crash. The 30-year-old reigning downhill world champion delivered a dominant performance on the Olympia delle Tofane slope, finishing in 1:36.10 to claim gold.
Johnson's Winning Run and Podium Finishers
Johnson, starting sixth in the field of 36 racers, set an aggressive pace that proved unbeatable throughout the competition. Germany's Emma Aicher, a World Cup winner this season, captured silver just four-hundredths of a second behind Johnson. Italian home favourite Sofia Goggia took bronze, 0.59 seconds off the winning time, completing her set of Olympic downhill medals after previous gold and silver performances.
Lindsey Vonn's Devastating Crash
The competition was marred by a horrific crash involving American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn. The 41-year-old, who has won a record 12 World Cups at Cortina d'Ampezzo, lost control in the top section of the course after overshooting a turn and clipping the fourth gate with her shoulder. Her injured left leg, which has no functioning ACL, gave way during the fall.
Medics attended to Vonn immediately, and she was stretchered off the mountain before being airlifted to hospital. The competition was paused for approximately 20 minutes before resuming. US Ski and Snowboard confirmed Vonn would be evaluated by medical staff, though her condition remains unclear.
Emotional Victory and Additional Incidents
Johnson, a friend of Vonn's, was visibly emotional throughout the latter stages of the race, with her victory celebration tempered by concern for her teammate. The gold medal represents a remarkable comeback for Johnson, who missed the 2022 Winter Olympics after tearing her ACL just before the Games and served a 14-month ban for whereabouts failures in 2023-2024.
The race saw additional crashes, though most competitors completed their runs safely. Austria's Nina Ortlieb crashed but was able to continue unassisted, while Andorra's Cande Moreno, who had previously undergone ACL surgery, suffered a hard knee impact on the fastest section of the course and was also airlifted to hospital.
Goggia's bronze medal performance came immediately after Vonn's crash, with the Italian skier demonstrating remarkable focus to deliver a podium finish despite the difficult circumstances, earning roaring support from the home crowd.
