Breezy Johnson Gets USA’s First Gold Amid Bittersweet Women’s Downhill Alpine Skiing for Team USA

Skier Breezy Johnson put Team USA on the medal stand.

Amid a large cheer from the strong American crowd at the Olympics, Johnson completed what was widely considered the most difficult downhill skiing course in Olympic history in 1:36.10 to claim the gold medal in Women’s Downhill Alpine Skiing.

Johnson becomes the second American to win gold in the women’s downhill event, after Lindsey Vonn first accomplished the feat in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Johnson was the fastest in the training rounds this year, so her victory was relatively expected. Still, Johnson was visibly emotional at the medal ceremony during the playing of the National Anthem.

Team USA’s victory was a bit bittersweet after Vonn’s race ended in heartbreak. Vonn was slated to race in her final Olympics, but completely tore her ACL in the days leading up to the games. Vonn committed to race in the games, but crashed early in the course and had to get airlifted for the second time in two weeks.

“If you know Lindsey Vonn, you know there was nothing but 100% send on race day,” observed NBC Sports’ Dan Hicks.

The crash did not seem to have been precipitated by the injury.

Johnson recovered from getting off her line midway through the course to beat out Emma Aicher of Germany, who finished got the silver medal after finishing .04 seconds behind Johnson, less time than an eye blink. Sofia Goggia of Italy, who finished with a time of 1:31.69, nabbed the bronze medal.

“I had a good feeling about today,” Johnson said to reporters after the match. “I sort of still can’t believe it yet, so I don’t know when it will sink in yet. I’ll let you know.”

Jacqueline Wiles, the third American to qualify for the event, tied fourth.

Johnson has been challenged by this course in her career. Today, she conquered it, and brings home the hardware to show it.