Breezy Johnson is having the Olympics of her career, but even champions feel the pressure! Just a day after winning gold in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Breezy returned to the slopes but this time teamed with Mikaela Shiffrin in the women’s team combined event. She handled the downhill with poise, even as racing beside Mikaela carried an extra edge.

After Breezy finished her downhill run, the leaderboard showed her dominance: gold went to Breezy Johnson (1:36.59), silver to Ariane Raedler (1:36.65), and bronze to Laura Pirovano (1:36.86). Even though she won, the 30-year-old skier admitted there were a few mistakes during her run. And just after finishing, when asked how it felt to compete with Mikaela Shiffrin as her teammate…who would race the slalom at 13:00 GMT, she shared her honest thoughts.

“I mean, I know what it is to have an Olympic dream, and to hold somebody else’s in your hand is a big deal,” Breezy Johnson said. Well, in the team combined, the downhill and slalom count as one result. If the downhill skier crashes or does not finish, the slalom skier never gets to start. That meant Mikaela Shiffrin’s race depended fully on Breezy making it safely to the bottom.

But at the same time, Breezy explained that winning was not her main worry in that moment. “I didn’t feel super stressed about having to win the run, but I definitely didn’t want to crash or do anything that would mean she couldn’t go and execute,” Breezy added. “Once I got through the top section, which I was a little nervous about, I was like, you know, just be relaxed, let’s go have some fun…” So, once she cleared the tricky top section, she told herself to relax, ski free, and enjoy it!

For Mikaela Shiffrin, this team combined race marks her first Olympic appearance in Milan-Cortina. Well, she is also set to compete in two more events: giant slalom and slalom. Surely, keeping her focus tight after what happened in 2022, when she left Beijing without a medal. For Breezy, though, this moment was about more than medals. It was about trust, friendship, and showing up for someone who has shared the road with her for years.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

How Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson’s bond grew over the years

Born just ten months apart, Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson go way back! They first met as kids whensharing a room at a junior race when they were around 11. With time, this simple race week friendship slowly grew stronger as both climbed through the ranks of U.S. skiing!

This bond has already paid off on the biggest stages. In the 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships, the two collaborated to secure gold in the team combined event. It marked the initial occasion where the discipline featured at a major championship. Breezy assumed the downhill, Mikaela had the slalom, and they shared the fastest time in total to win the world title on behalf of the U.S.

Shiffrin cherished that medal better than most.  After the race, she said that sharing gold with Breezy “tops the list of any medal I’ve ever won.” She later spoke about how Breezy helped her push past fear marked by injury and mental strain.

Mikaela Shiffrin explained that Breezy’s calm, fun first mindset helped her feel ready to race again when doubt had started to creep in. “She was like, hey, it’s not for the medal. Do it because this is crazy fun. Do it because you like skiing and because you want to be here,” Shiffrin told FIS. Now that bond has carried into the 2026 Winter Olympics!

After their recent team combined run in Milano Cortina Breezy reflected on what it means to share the Olympic stage with someone she has known since childhood. “I mean, it’s really cool to race at the Olympics with someone you’ve known since you were 12 years old. It’s something you kind of gab about as little kids at a sleepover. So yeah, to all the little girls out there who have a best friend who also ski races. Maybe one day you can race at the Olympics together,” she added.

As the women’s team made its debut in Milan in the Olympics, the Shiffrin-Johnson duo is indeed an eye-catcher. Breezy is the defending Olympic downhill champion, and Mikaela Shiffrin is one of the all-time slalom skiers. And now they are hope of U.S.