Breezy Johnson’s Olympic Journey: Examining Past Injuries
American ski athlete Breezy Johnson is poised for another Olympic challenge as she prepares to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. She will participate in the women’s downhill event, which is scheduled to begin on February 8, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. CET.
Breezy Johnson: Key Competitive Events
Johnson is not only focused on downhill skiing; she will also partake in the super-G and team combined events. The alpine combined is particularly special to her.
Unique Aspects of the Alpine Combined
Johnson describes the team combined event as a unique twist on the typically individual-centric sport of alpine skiing. She stated, “Team combined turns that on its head a little bit because you suddenly are competing for somebody else.” This sense of teamwork adds a layer of excitement to the competition.
Past Performances and Achievements
At the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025 held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Johnson exhibited exceptional performance. She secured first place in both the downhill and team combined events, with times of 1:41.29 and 2:40.89, respectively. Johnson emphasized the joy of sharing podium moments with teammates, stating it was her most enjoyable yet stressful race experience.
Injury Comebacks
Breezy Johnson’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced several injuries throughout her career. In 2017, she sustained a tibial plateau fracture in her left leg during the World Cup Finals in Aspen, Colorado, but made a swift recovery. Competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, she finished 7th in the downhill event and 14th in the super-G.
- 2018: Made Olympic debut, placing 7th in downhill and 14th in super-G.
- 2019: Missed the entire season due to ACL tear.
- 2020: Returned to competition after rigorous rehabilitation.
- 2022: Missed the Winter Olympics in Beijing due to a knee cartilage injury.
USADA Suspension
In a setback during her career, Johnson was suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2024 for “Whereabout Failure.” She accepted a 14-month sanction after failing to be located for drug testing on three occasions. Johnson clarified in a social media post that these issues weren’t related to failed drug tests.
Resilience and Future Outlook
Despite these challenges, Johnson returned to competition in December 2024 and has since demonstrated her capability by winning two events at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025. She currently holds an impressive ranking of No. 8 in the World Cup standings for downhill skiing and No. 23 overall. As she looks toward the Milano Cortina Games, Johnson is determined to earn her first Olympic medals.
