Team USA competed in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Here’s how Breezy, Johnson, Lindsey Vonn and others fared.
MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — Breezy Johnson of the United States won gold Sunday in the women’s Alpine skiing downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the first gold medal for Team USA at the Games.
The highly anticipated Alpine skiing women’s downhill event brought four Team USA athletes to the scenic course at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Sunday.
American athletes Lindsey Vonn, Isabella Wright, Breezy Johnson and Jackie Wiles participated in the finals.
Johnson’s finishing time was 1:36.10. Germany’s Emma Aicher took bronze in 1:36.14, just 0.04 seconds back, while Italy’s Sofia Goggia won silver in 1:36.69, 0.59 seconds behind Johnson.
Johnson’s teammate Wiles finished just off the podium in fourth place, posting a time of 1:36.96, 0.86 seconds behind the winner. Wright finished 22nd in 1:38.85.
The race took a dramatic turn early when Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured left knee, crashed near the top of the course and was taken off the mountain by helicopter after receiving medical attention for several minutes.
Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air. She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel. She was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter — possibly ending the skier’s storied career.
All eyes were on Vonn as the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years away from the circuit. She had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee in 2024 and decided to return after the surgery left her feeling strong enough to compete again.
The 41-year-old was leading the World Cup downhill standings and had been a gold-medal favorite before crashing in Switzerland last week. The injury included a ruptured ACL, along with a bone bruise and meniscus damage.
Wright, a 28-year-old from Utah. has been on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team since 2021. Johnson, the 28-year-old from Wyoming, joined the A Team in the 2017-18 season. Wiles, the 33-year-old from Oregon, joined the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team in 2013.