A downhill skier earned the United States’ first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Breezy Johnson won the women’s Olympic downhill race in Cortina. It’s also the first gold medal of her career.
BREEZY’S GOLDEN MOMENT. 🥇
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 8, 2026
Breezy Johnson wins gold in the women’s downhill final for her first career medal at the #WinterOlympics. pic.twitter.com/KwdQsh6DPg
Johnson is now the second American to win the Olympic downhill after Lindsey Vonn did it 16 years ago.
Emma Aicher of Germany took silver, and Italy’s Sofia Goggia snagged bronze.
It was an emotional event for Team USA, as Lindsey Vonn crashed hard moments into her run after clipping a gate. She was airlifted off the course by helicopter for further evaluation.
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