Breezy Johnson wins 1st gold for US at Milan Cortina Olympics after Lindsey Vonn crashes

U.S. Skier Breezy Johnson Claims First American Gold at Milan Cortina Olympics Amid Vonn’s Dramatic Crash

In a dramatic turn of events that captured the attention of the sports world Sunday, American skier Breezy Johnson clinched the United States’ first gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics in the women’s downhill event, even as teammate Lindsey Vonn’s frightening crash overshadowed the victory celebration.

Johnson’s triumphant moment in Cortina d’Ampezzo came with mixed emotions as spectators gasped and a medical helicopter was summoned following Vonn’s fall. Despite competing with a torn ACL, Vonn’s attempt to add another Olympic medal to her illustrious career ended in a heart-stopping moment that left Johnson emotionally conflicted.

“It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life,” Johnson said, describing her feelings while sitting in the leader’s box, oscillating between anticipation for her potential gold medal and anguish over her teammate’s accident.

The 30-year-old Johnson now enters the record books as only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill, following Vonn’s gold medal at Vancouver in 2010. Johnson’s victory represents a remarkable comeback story in its own right, overcoming significant injury concerns and a 14-month ban for violating anti-doping “whereabouts” rules.

Her perseverance epitomizes the Olympic spirit, as she reflected, “Sometimes you just have to keep going because that’s the only option.”

In the same competition, American Jacqueline Wiles narrowly missed adding to the U.S. medal count, finishing tied for fourth and just shy of bronze medal position.

Meanwhile, the Winter Games welcomed a contingent of NHL stars to Italy on Sunday as five charter planes carrying players including Canada’s Sidney Crosby arrived in Milan from New York. This marks the first Olympic tournament featuring NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games, ending a 10-year absence of the world’s top hockey talent at the Olympics.

The 12-team men’s ice hockey tournament kicks off Wednesday, with powerhouses United States and Canada both beginning their campaigns Thursday. The Americans face Latvia, while Canada takes on the Czech Republic in their opening matches. While Finland enters as the defending Olympic champion, Canada has historically dominated when NHL players participate, winning gold at the last two Olympics featuring the league’s stars.

On the slopes of Livigno, the snowboarding parallel giant slalom competition delivered its own stunning upset. Czech rider Ester Ledecka, who was pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event, suffered a shocking quarterfinal defeat to Austria’s Sabine Payer by just 0.06 seconds.

In a surprising twist, Ledecka’s 22-year-old teammate Zuzana Maderova claimed the gold medal in what marked her first victory in a major competition. Payer secured silver, while Italy’s Lucia Dalmasso rounded out the podium with bronze. The result was particularly unexpected considering Ledecka had maintained an unbeaten streak in World Cup PGS races for nearly two years.

As Olympic competition continues in Italy, sports fans across the country are preparing for another major sporting event across the Atlantic. The Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks has generated significant interest despite the 12:30 a.m. local start time on Monday. Sports pubs in Milan reported being fully booked for watch parties, demonstrating the NFL’s growing international appeal.

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics continue to deliver compelling stories of triumph, disappointment, and resilience as athletes pursue their Olympic dreams on the world stage.