Breezy Johnson Wins Gold as Lindsey Vonn Crashes in Cortina

Breezy Johnson won the women's downhill gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo while Lindsey Vonn underwent emergency surgery following a high-speed crash. Lindsey Vonn was attempting a historic comeback despite a recent ACL injury before she lost control and was airlifted to a hospital in Treviso for a leg fracture. Breezy Johnson's victory marks the first downhill gold for USA in 16 years and follows her return from a 14-month suspension for drug-testing whereabouts violations.Emma Aicher of Germany secured the silver medal while Sofia Goggia of Italy took the bronze in an event marked by several medical evacuations. International Ski and Snowboard Federation President Johan Eliasch expressed support for Lindsey Vonn following the incident that occurred just 13 seconds into her race run.Lindsey Vonn had returned to elite competition in 2024 after a five-year retirement and was aiming to become the oldest Alpine skiing medalist in Olympic history before the accident. Breezy Johnson celebrated her win alongside figures like Mikaela Shiffrin and Snoop Dogg while wishing her teammate a successful recovery.