It was poised to be an extraordinary day, marking American superstar Lindsey Vonn’s improbable comeback. However, the narrative shifted dramatically when her teammate, Breezy Johnson, posted an early, blistering time that ultimately secured her the gold medal in the women’s downhill event. The triumph was bittersweet, as Vonn suffered a spectacular crash and had to be airlifted from the mountain.
As Johnson watched the remaining competitors from the finish line, her emotions were a mix of joyous smiles and heartfelt tears. This marked the 30-year-old athlete’s inaugural Olympic medal, a significant achievement after she was forced to miss the 2022 Games due to an injury.
Vonn, hoping for a fairytale return at 41, barely began her run before her Olympic aspirations came to an abrupt end. She sailed into the air, clipped a flag, spun slightly off balance, and then tumbled dramatically onto the snow. Her comeback bid, attempted mere days after an ACL injury, was over. Following the crash, Vonn received extensive medical attention and was subsequently evacuated by helicopter, causing a significant delay before the race could resume.
Meanwhile, Johnson had charged down the course, outpacing earlier skiers by a remarkable margin of over a second. Despite the world’s elite skiers attempting to best her time, Johnson’s lead held strong, earning her the top spot on the podium.
Germany’s Emma Aicher secured the silver medal, while Italy’s veteran Sofia Goggia, who had the honor of lighting Cortina’s Olympic cauldron just two days prior, earned the bronze.