Breezy Johnson secures first US gold as Lindsey Vonn's crash reshapes emotional women’s downhill Olympic race

Lindsey Vonn and Breezy Johnson became the center of attention in the women’s downhill race, but for very different reasons. Vonn’s emotional Olympic comeback ended in a painful crash early Sunday, while Johnson delivered the race of her life to win gold for the United States.

The moment was both heartbreaking and inspiring for fans watching around the world. According to U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Vonn crashed near the top of the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, forcing a long pause before the race could continue. About 20 minutes later, competition resumed, and Johnson’s earlier run still stood as the fastest. Her winning time of 1:36.10 secured the first U.S. gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, turning a tense morning into a historic one for Team USA.

Germany’s Emma Aicher finished second in 1:36.14, followed by Italy’s Sofia Goggia in 1:36.69. Fellow American Jackie Wiles just missed the podium, placing fourth with 1:36.96. Even with strong competition, Johnson’s performance remained unmatched from the moment she crossed the finish line as the sixth racer down the mountain.

Breezy Johnson’s historic Olympic gold and emotional reaction after Lindsey Vonn’s crash

Breezy Johnson’s victory carried deep emotion because it came moments after seeing her teammate fall.

When Vonn did not appear at the finish, Johnson looked up the course with concern and sent a quiet gesture of support. Later, U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirmed that Vonn was being evaluated by medical staff, easing some immediate fears.Johnson, a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, native, entered the Olympics in strong form. She was already the defending world downhill champion, winning in Saalbach, Austria, and she also posted the fastest time in the final training run before race day.

Still, nothing compared to the feeling of an Olympic gold medal finally becoming real.This was only Johnson’s second Olympic appearance. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, she finished seventh in downhill and 14th in Super-G. Those earlier results showed promise, but her performance in Milan Cortina confirmed her arrival among the sport’s best.Her gold medal also placed her beside Lindsey Vonn, the only other American woman to win Olympic downhill gold, which Vonn achieved in 2010. That connection made the moment even more meaningful, linking past and present in U.S. ski racing history.While one Olympic dream ended with Vonn’s crash, another came true through Johnson’s courage and speed. Together, the two stories created one of the most emotional and memorable races of the Winter Games so far.