Breezy Johnson Makes History with Gold at Alpine Skiing World Championships
American skier Breezy Johnson achieved a remarkable milestone by winning gold in the women’s downhill event at the alpine skiing world championships held in Saalbach, Austria. This victory marks the pinnacle of the 29-year-old former Olympian’s career.
A Stellar Performance
Competing as the first skier on the course, Johnson clocked in at 1:41.29. She then assumed the leader’s position, witnessing 32 other competitors fail to surpass her time, ultimately securing her inaugural win on a significant global stage.
Emotional Reflections
Reflecting on her race, Johnson noted, “I knew it wasn’t the perfect run, but I knew it was good. And then when I came across the line and I saw that it was a low (1:41 time), I was like, ‘Maybe.’”
Podium Placements
Pursuing Johnson’s success, Austria’s Mirjam Puchner finished in second place, just 0.15 seconds behind, while Czechia’s Ester Ledecka claimed third, trailing by 0.21 seconds.
Strong Finishes from Teammates
U.S. teammate Lauren Macuga, who earned a bronze in the super-G earlier in the week, delivered a solid performance to finish fifth. Lindsey Vonn, the celebrated 82-time World Cup winner making her return to the sport at age 40, ended up in 15th place after a challenging super-G event. Italy’s Federica Brignone, the leading downhill skier on the World Cup circuit this season, finished in 10th. Notably, Swiss champion Lara Gut-Behrami unfortunately did not complete the course.
A Long-Awaited Victory
Johnson, a seven-time World Cup downhill podium finisher, has participated in four world championships and was a competitor in the 2018 Olympics, but had never clinched a victory until now. Just weeks ago, she finished fourth in a super-G event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, hinting at her return to form after a challenging few years marked by injuries and a 14-month anti-doping ban. Her previous World Cup podium appearance occurred in December 2021 in Val d’Isere, France.
Overwhelmed with Joy
Johnson expressed her disbelief post-race, telling NBC Sports’ Heather Cox, “It has not sunk in; this is very crazy,” as she awaited confirmation of her victory from the remaining racers. Once the results solidified, she was flooded with emotion, becoming the fourth American woman to win world championship gold in the downhill, following the illustrious footsteps of Vonn in 2009, Hilary Lindh in 1997, and Picabo Street in 1996. Bode Miller was the last man to achieve this feat in 2005.
Looking Ahead
Johnson’s victory comes one year before the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Olympics, providing a boost to the U.S. speed-skiing team in the lead-up to the Milano-Cortina Games. In additional notable performances, Macuga not only secured a world championship bronze in super-G but also achieved her first career World Cup victory last month. Meanwhile, Vonn, who faced health challenges recently, is using the upcoming Olympics as a culmination of her career revival and has already notched five top-15 finishes and two top-six placements in nine races since her return to competitive skiing after a lengthy absence.
Johnson’s Remarkable Journey
On race day, Johnson rose early, unable to sleep in anticipation of what would become the finest performance of her career. “When I get nervous,” she shared regarding her pre-race butterflies, “I’m like, ‘You’re only nervous because you have a shot at this.’”
(Photo of Breezy Johnson: Jens Büttner / picture alliance via Getty Images)
