American Breezy Johnson Secures Gold as Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Comeback Ends in Crash at 2026 Winter Games
American skier Breezy Johnson secured the gold medal in the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, marking the first medal for the United States at the Games. In the same event, fellow American Lindsey Vonn, competing after sustaining a knee injury a week prior, crashed early in her run and was subsequently airlifted from the course, concluding her Olympic comeback attempt.
Pre-Olympic Crash: Vonn's Setback in Switzerland
Lindsey Vonn, 41, crashed on Friday during her final downhill race before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The World Cup race took place under challenging conditions, with reports of low visibility and bumpy terrain. Vonn lost control upon landing a jump and became entangled in safety nets on the upper section of the course. She received medical attention on site before being airlifted by helicopter.
Following the incident, Vonn was observed limping and keeping weight off her left knee, though her immediate condition was not specified by the U.S. ski team, which stated she was "being evaluated." The race was subsequently canceled after three of the first six competitors, including Vonn, crashed. Other skiers, such as Nina Ortlieb of Austria and Marte Monsen of Norway, also experienced crashes during the event.
"You can't see, and it's bumpy everywhere." - Romane Miradoli of France, describing the difficult conditions in Crans-Montana.
Vonn withdrew from the World Cup super-G race scheduled for the following day in Crans-Montana. The injury sustained in Crans-Montana was later described as an ACL tear or left knee ligament rupture.
Lindsey Vonn's Ambitious Comeback Journey
Vonn, a prominent U.S. skier and Olympic gold medalist from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, retired in 2019, attributing her decision to repeated knee injuries. She holds the record for the most World Cup wins by any skier, with 82 victories at the time of her initial retirement.
In 2024, she underwent a partial right knee titanium replacement and resumed training with the goal of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Cortina holds significance for Vonn as the location of her first World Cup podium finish in 2004 and where she set a World Cup win record in 2015.
Prior to her crash in Switzerland, Vonn had been leading the World Cup downhill standings this season. Her performances included two downhill victories, such as the season opener in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and five additional podium finishes across her eight completed World Cup races. She had expressed a desire to complete the season to pursue another crystal globe, adding to her 20 career crystal globes. Vonn had planned to compete in the women's downhill, super-G, and the new team combined event at the Olympics.
The Olympic Race: Drama in Cortina
The Olympic women's downhill race commenced on Sunday, February 8, at 11:30 a.m. local time on the Olimpia delle Tofane ski course in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Course conditions had been affected by recent fog and light snow, leading to delays and cancellations of training runs.
Lindsey Vonn, competing nine days after her left knee ligament rupture, started as the 13th competitor. She crashed 13 seconds into her run, at the fourth gate, when her right arm made contact with the gate, causing her to lose balance on a subsequent jump. She landed on her right side and tumbled. Medical staff attended to Vonn for over 10 minutes before she was airlifted from the mountain.
The extent of Vonn's injuries was not immediately clear, though one source later reported she sustained a broken leg. The incident concluded Vonn's attempt to secure another Olympic medal in what she stated would be her final Olympic downhill. Other American skiers participating in the race included Breezy Johnson, Jackie Wiles, and Isabella Wright.
Breezy Johnson Claims Historic Gold
Breezy Johnson, 30, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, secured the Olympic women's downhill gold medal. Johnson, who started as the sixth competitor, completed the course with a time of 1 minute, 36.10 seconds. This victory marked the first medal for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Germany's Emma Aicher earned the silver medal, finishing 0.04 seconds behind Johnson with a time of 1:36.14. Italy's Sofia Goggia secured the bronze medal, finishing 0.59 seconds behind Johnson.
Johnson's gold medal followed a successful preceding year, which included winning gold at the World Championships downhill event in 2025 and another gold in the team combined event with teammate Mikaela Shiffrin. She had also achieved a World Cup podium finish in Kvitfjell, Norway, and her first career World Cup super-G podium in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Johnson was returning to the Olympics after sustaining a knee injury before the 2022 Winter Games.