Breezy Johnson wins Olympic downhill in race marred by Vonn crash - ESPN

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — American ski racer Breezy Johnson won the Olympic downhill Sunday with a hard-charging run on a day marred by teammate Lindsey Vonn's crash that saw her being taken off the mountain in a helicopter.

Johnson was the sixth racer and found speed with a risk-taking trip along the iconic Olympia delle Tofana course on a sunny day in Cortina. She was in the leader's box when Vonn, the No. 13 racer, cut a corner too close and spun around before crashing. The race was put on hold for more than 20 minutes.

Johnson finished in 1 minute, 36.10 seconds to hold off Emma Aicher of Germany by .04 seconds, securing the first medal for the United States of these Winter Games in the process. Italy's Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic downhill winner and 2022 silver medalist, finished with the bronze.

Johnson, 30, joins Vonn as the only American women to win the Olympic downhill.

The tears began welling in Johnson's eyes as racer after racer couldn't top her time. Johnson wiped them away with her mitten.

It's been a tumultuous road to the top for Johnson, who sat out the 2022 Beijing Olympics with a knee injury. She was given a 14-month ban that expired in December 2024 for missing three anti-doping exams and violating «whereabouts» rules. She returned to win the world championship last February.

Now, she is an Olympic downhill gold medalist. Teammate Jacqueline Wiles finished just .27 seconds away from a medal in a tie for fourth place.

«I think that this was the best run Breezy's ever skied,» teammate Bella Wright said. «I've seen her ski ever since I was 8 years old.»

Vonn's crash put a somber mood over the event. Vonn, who won the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was a gold medal favorite before her crash in