Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States celebrates with her gold medal after winning the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
After years of perseverance on the international stage, Breezy Johnson claimed gold in the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina on February 8. However, moments after her win, Johnson experienced an unexpected turn when her medal separated from its handle during celebrations.
“Do not jump in them. I was jumping in excitement and it broke,” Johnson explained to journalists during a post-ceremony interview, displaying the disassembled parts for the cameras. “So there’s the medal, there’s the ribbon, and here’s the little piece that is supposed to go into the ribbon to hold the medal. Yeah, it came apart.”
Despite this minor mishap, the 30-year-old’s spirits remained high. Johnson, who secured Team USA’s first gold medal of these Games, was optimistic the medal could soon be repaired. “I’m sure someone will fix it,” she joked. “It’s not crazy broken, but it’s a little broken.”
Johnson’s road to the 2026 podium was not without difficulties. After placing seventh at her Olympic debut in Pyeongchang in 2018, she missed the downhill race entirely at the 2022 Beijing Games due to a knee injury. Reflecting on that period, Johnson recalled via social media how she “immediately felt a massive crack in my knee” during training in Italy, later learning a significant portion of cartilage had become dislodged.
Demonstrating resolve, Johnson described in her press conference how each Olympic appearance held new meaning: “I was telling my mom a week ago: You go to your second Olympic Games to win a medal, and you go to your third Games to win the whole damn thing, so it’s really special,” she said. “This is the third team I’ve made and obviously it didn’t go to plan on the second one, but I’m really excited to see what all of Team USA is capable of.”
Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States celebrates in the finish area in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Johnson also discussed her mental approach on race day, particularly after fellow American skier Lindsey Vonn suffered a severe injury earlier in the week. She shared her own journey of reclaiming her competitiveness: “I think part of what hurt the most in 2022 was that I did love this course,” Johnson said following her win. “Sometimes the things you love can hurt you the most. Just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean that it can also hurt. It means that you have to go and make that possible.”
She continued, “Taking ownership of that is what I’ve been trying to do for the last four years. And today, it paid off.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics continue with memorable performances and displays of resilience by athletes such as Johnson and her Team USA peers.
Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
