American skier Breezy Johnson instructed CBS Information she’s been treating her alternative gold medal with care after the unique, which she received within the girls’s downhill occasion on the 2026 Winter Video games in Italy on Saturday, broke.
“I feel that as a result of they had been so heavy, the ribbons could not actually maintain them,” Johnson stated, calling it “a bit of disappointing” that Olympic medal winners needed to be cautious about celebrating too enthusiastically, because it’s “all anyone desires to do.”
Johnson stated she was initially instructed she would not get her unique medal again, however it has been fastened, and he or she plans to maintain it and commerce within the alternative. She additionally plans to knit a particular pouch to maintain it secure.
“I’m an avid knitter,” Johnson instructed CBS Information correspondent Seth Doane on Wednesday. “I knit a brand new hat or headband for each race. It is a massive superstition of mine.”
She solely wears her particular handknit race equipment as soon as, for his or her respective race, after which they’re retired.
“They’re piling up in my luggage, however I have been wanting for a very long time to, like, public sale a few of them off and, like, have individuals purchase them and donate the proceeds to charity,” she stated. “I haven’t got anything to do with them.”
Andy Wong / AP
Johnson devoted the gold medal to her father.
“He came upon that he can by no means ski once more,” she instructed CBS Information. “, he taught me to ski. I believed that the most effective factor that I may do was attempt to ski as quick as I may.”
Requested about her views on representing america, given political debate across the Video games, Johnson declined to go down that slope.
“There’s been quite a lot of rhetoric. I personally choose to concentrate on my snowboarding. I personally do not know anyone who has modified their political affiliation due to one thing that any superstar or particular person stated. So, I personally choose to concentrate on my snowboarding and donate the cash that I make to charities that I really feel are literally doing the work that I assist.”
Regardless of successful the primary gold medal for Group USA in Italy, the Milano-Cortina Winter Video games have not been a complete success story for Johnson.
She didn’t make the rostrum after snowboarding with teammate Mikaela Shiffrin within the group slalom occasion Tuesday. After the race, Johnson might be seen talking with Shiffrin, delivering what appeared like a pep speak.
“I stated, ‘I do know you tried your finest and it is gonna be OK,'” Johnson instructed CBS Information of the non-public chat. “I do not, like, maintain any of that in opposition to anybody as a result of I do know this sport. There’s so many variables, and there have been variables yesterday, too. They weren’t essentially in our favor, and we went out and we each gave it our all, and it did not occur, however that is OK.”
Johnson stated she’s usually fairly good at dealing with the stress of competing on the highest stage of her sport — and he or she understands that such competitors, and such excessive speeds, include excessive hazard.
After Group USA’s Lindsey Vonn was injured in a fall within the downhill race Saturday, which Johnson went on to win, she stated her 41-year-old world champion teammate texted her.
“She stated, ‘congratulations,'” Johnson stated. “, I do know what she’s going by is tough, and I feel she’s coping with lots. So, we have not spoken, like, on the telephone or something, however I want her the most effective.”
Johnson stated she additionally understands what drove Vonn to compete in these Video games only a week after rupturing her ACL.
“A part of what breaks your coronary heart is that you simply’re used to defying the percentages. You are used to writing fairytale endings. And the truth is that these issues get made into motion pictures as a result of they’re so unlikely. And sadly, you may’t at all times — it isn’t at all times like the films,” she stated.
“It is obscure what strikes individuals to do it, however if you’re doing it properly, it is a fairly unbelievable feeling,” Johnson stated, describing the game of downhill as “counterintuitive” and saying that spectators can share within the rush.
“Eighty-five miles an hour, nothing to guard you besides spandex, combining in gigantic blades in your toes, which individuals generally appear to neglect,” she stated. “It is like Components One on ice, with big knives, who would not wish to watch that?”
