Breezy Johnson gets engaged after running out of women

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy — American alpine skiing champion Breezy Johnson, who already owns a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, crashed out of the competition in the women’s Super-G race on Thursday in Italy. His right stick collided with a gate shortly after exiting the field’s speed slide and he lost his balance, ending up on the catch fence.

She was able to stand up after the accident and walk down the mountain, where her boyfriend Connor Watkins pulled out a silver ring, got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Video shared by Johnson on social media showed them kissing after she accepted his proposal.

The US Ski and Snowboard Team posted a pair of messages on social media confirming the couple’s engagement and offering their “huge congratulations to Breezy and Connor.”

Johnson won gold in the women’s downhill event on Saturday — her first medal of the 2026 Games and the first for Team USA overall. Then his medal broke and fell off the ribbon as he celebrated. Johnson told Seth Doane of News themezone He was taking special care of his replacement medal while the original was under repair, and intended to weave a dedicated bag to keep his medal safe once returned.

The race was won by Italian skier Federica Brignone, completing her long and painful climb back to the top of the sport. The 35-year-old won the first Olympic gold medal of her decorated career on Thursday, less than a year after breaking several bones in her left leg, resulting in two surgeries and months of rehabilitation.

Brignone overcame Trofane’s difficult technical course in 1:23.41 minutes to take the win.

Johnson wasn’t the only one who had problems. Italy’s Sofia Goggia, currently atop the World Cup season standings in super G, along with 2018 Olympic gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic and American Mary Bocock, who entered the race after the American star. Lindsey Vonn seriously injured her left leg On Sunday’s descent, they couldn’t get down safely.

Racing in foggy, flat-light conditions that can make the nuances of the course difficult to navigate, and with IOC President Kirsty Coventry and Italian President Sergio Mattarella near the finish line, Brignone triumphantly raised her poles after crossing the line.

Brignone’s victory made her the oldest female gold medalist in the women’s alpine category. The gold is also his fourth Olympic medal. Brignone took silver in the superG and bronze in the team event in Beijing four years ago. She also took bronze in super-G in Pyeongchang in 2018. Brignone’s four medals under hoops now tie Deborah Compagnoni for the most by an Italian skier.

Brignone was one of four Italian flag bearers during the opening ceremonies. At one point, still bothered by the pain in her left leg, almost 10 months after her terrifying accident in Val di Fassa, Brignone asked curler Amos Mosaner to carry her on his shoulders. Mosaner agreed, leaving Brignone free to fly the flag.

The familiar combination of red, white and green was visible across a wide swath of stands Thursday as Brignone finished, as a crowd emboldened by the host country’s early success roared to the 2026 Games and roared its approval.

“Congratulations Fede,” Vonn tweeted from the hospital where she is recovering from her accident. “What an incredible comeback!!”