Skier Breezy Johnson wins Team USA’s first gold medal of Milano Cortina Games in women’s downhill race where Lindsey Vonn crashed

American skier Breezy Johnson won Team USA’s first gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in the women’s downhill, a bittersweet victory after her teammate Lindsey Vonn crashed during the race.

Johnson, 30, was the sixth racer and first of four American skiers to complete the course on Saturday and took the lead from the start after flying over the iconic Olympia delle Tofana course on a sunny day in Cortina in 1:36.10. This is his very first Olympic medal.

Emma Aicher of Germany and Sofia Goggia of Italy completed the podium.

Johnson is the second American woman to win the Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing, the first being Vonn at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Johnson was visibly emotional when she received her medal and the national anthem was played.

The road to the top has been tumultuous for Johnson, who sat out the 2022 Beijing Olympics due to a knee injury. She was sentenced to a 14-month ban which expired in December 2024 for missing three doping tests and violating whereabouts rules. She returned to win the world championship last February.

Vonn, who was a gold medal favorite before rupturing her ACL a week ago, crashed just 13.4 seconds into her descent. She lost control on the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and ended up spinning in the air. She was heard screaming after the accident as she was surrounded by medical staff before being strapped to a stretcher and taken away by helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s storied career.

“Vonn’s right ski pole caught on a gate, throwing her off balance and out of control. She was airlifted from the mountain, a common practice for injuries during alpine competitions,” the U.S. team said.

The other Americans in the race – Jacqueline Wiles and Isabella Wright – finished 5th and 21st respectively.