Breezy Johnson delivers a historic women’s downhill victory for Team USA in Cortina d’Ampezzo as Lindsey Vonn is airlifted away after terrifying fall

It was supposed to be a pure celebration for Team USA on Sunday in Cortina d’Ampezzo — and in many ways, it was.

Breezy Johnson delivered a stunning performance in the Women’s Downhill, grabbing America’s very first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

But within minutes, the mood on the mountain shifted from joy to heartbreak, as Johnson and the entire skiing world watched teammate and legend Lindsey Vonn suffer a terrifying crash.

What should have been one of the happiest moments of Johnson’s career quickly became one of the most emotional scenes of these Games so far.

Breezy Johnson Flies Down the Course to Olympic Glory

Johnson, 30, attacked the famous Olimpia delle Tofane course with fearless speed and precision, stopping the clock at 1:36.10.

That time was just enough to edge out Germany’s Emma Aicher by the narrowest of margins — only .04 seconds separated gold from silver.

Italy’s downhill queen Sofia Goggia completed the podium in third.

For Johnson, it wasn’t just a win.

It was a breakthrough moment years in the making.

A Long Road to the Top of the Podium

Johnson’s Olympic journey hasn’t been smooth.

She first competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh — strong, but not quite medal territory.

Then came another setback: she missed the Beijing Games in 2022 due to injury, forced to watch from the sidelines.

Still, she kept pushing.

Last year, she finally captured her first world downhill title at the 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships, proving she belonged among the sport’s elite.

Now, she’s an Olympic champion.

Joining a Very Exclusive American Club

With this victory, Johnson becomes only the second American woman ever to win Olympic gold in downhill skiing.

The first?

Lindsey Vonn.

That connection made what happened next even more painful.

Lindsey Vonn’s Run Ends in Horror Seconds After Johnson’s Win

As Johnson waited at the bottom with the fastest time, Vonn launched herself out of the start gate, hoping to recreate her legendary 2010 Olympic triumph.

But just 13 seconds into her run, disaster struck.

Coming around only the second corner, Vonn lost control at speed.

She flew over a hill, slammed into one of the plastic course markers, and crashed violently onto the snow.

Her right leg appeared to take the first impact, followed by her shoulder, as she tumbled forward in brutal fashion.

Silence Falls Over Cortina

The lively Cortina crowd instantly went quiet.

Medical teams rushed up the slope as Vonn lay in obvious agony, her skis still attached.

Cameras caught her wincing, her head dropping back, and she could even be heard crying out in pain as medics worked to stabilize her.

Eventually, she was placed on a stretcher and airlifted off the mountain, a chilling reminder of how dangerous downhill skiing can be — even for the greatest.

Vonn’s Courageous Comeback Made the Crash Even More Heartbreaking

What makes this moment especially devastating is everything Vonn had already overcome just to be there.

At 41 years old, she had returned from a ruptured ACL and underwent knee reconstruction in 2024.

Remarkably, she competed despite having no ACL in her left leg, defying medical expectations.

Her coach was heard yelling encouragement — “keep charging, keep pushing” — as she left the gate.

Sadly, the comeback story turned into a nightmare.

Johnson’s Emotional Reaction Says It All

As replays of the crash played on the big screen, Johnson covered her face.

It was a bittersweet scene: the newest American downhill champion celebrating while watching the woman who paved the way suffer a potentially serious injury.

Even the organizers’ decision to play background music over Vonn’s cries drew attention, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

A Dangerous Day on the Slopes With More Crashes to Follow

Vonn wasn’t the only skier to go down.

Austrian racer Nina Ortleib crashed late in her run after catching air over a bump and landing awkwardly. Thankfully, she managed to get back up and ski away.

But later, even more worrying news emerged when Andorran skier Cande Moreno also suffered a horrific crash and had to be airlifted from the course.

Sunday’s downhill quickly became a reminder of the razor-thin line between glory and disaster in alpine skiing.

What’s next?

The biggest question now is Lindsey Vonn’s condition.

Fans and teammates will be anxiously awaiting medical updates to learn the extent of her injuries and whether this crash ends her Olympic comeback story.

Meanwhile, Breezy Johnson will move forward as one of the faces of Team USA’s 2026 campaign, carrying both the pride of gold — and the emotional weight of what unfolded right after her historic run.

More downhill and speed events are still to come, but safety will be under the spotlight after such a frightening day in Cortina.

Summary

Breezy Johnson delivered Team USA’s first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics with a thrilling Women’s Downhill victory in Cortina.

But the celebration turned bittersweet when legendary teammate Lindsey Vonn crashed just seconds into her run and was airlifted from the mountain in painful scenes.

With additional crashes involving other racers, Sunday became a dramatic and sobering day on the slopes — filled with triumph, heartbreak, and uncertainty about what comes next.

If you’d like, I can rewrite this again in an even more casual storytelling style or expand it with more background on Vonn’s career and Johnson’s rise.