Imagine this: the most fiercely contested, adrenaline-pumping women’s downhill ski race in history. That’s the bold prediction from none other than Olympic hopeful Breanna Johnson, and she’s not mincing words. Speaking to AFP during a training camp at Copper Mountain, Colorado, Johnson declared the upcoming Olympic downhill event will be unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. But what makes her so sure it will be the ‘toughest race ever’? Let’s delve into her reasoning.
Johnson highlights several key factors converging at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. “The women race there every year,” she explains, “it’s most athletes’ favorite mountain on tour, so everybody skis really well at their favorite mountain.” This familiarity breeds confidence, and that translates to faster, more aggressive skiing. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about the mountain; it’s the psychological impact of the Olympics themselves. The immense pressure, the global stage, and the weight of national expectations all amplify the athletes’ performances. Johnson believes this combination will push everyone to their absolute limit, creating a truly spectacular event. She sums it up perfectly: “I think everybody will be giving their best skiing, and that’ll make it a really cool event.”
The setting for this potential clash of titans is the breathtaking “delle Tofane” slope in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, a jewel nestled in the heart of the Dolomites. According to Johnson, the course is almost perfectly designed for Downhill. “Downhill is about blending the skier with the mountain, and Cortina kind of is the epitome of that,” she says. This intimate connection between athlete and terrain is crucial for achieving the kind of speed and precision needed to win. At 29 years old, Johnson herself is considered a strong contender for gold, especially after her World Championship victory in Saalbach, Austria, last February. While she boasts eight World Cup podium finishes, she’s yet to conquer Cortina.
“I have this like weird ability to really generate speed on Cortina, and that’s sort of my superpower, but it’s also my Achilles heel,” Johnson admits candidly. “I can get going really fast there, but it means that I am that much more likely to make a mistake.” During her world title run in Saalbach, she clocked a staggering speed of over 138 km/h (approximately 86 mph), highlighting her fearless approach.
But here’s where it gets controversial… even if Johnson is at the peak of her game, securing a spot on the American Olympic team is no easy feat. She faces stiff competition from a talented pool of skiers, including veteran Lindsey Vonn, who is making a comeback at 41, rising star Lauren Macuga, and Jacqueline Wiles, a two-time podium finisher in Cortina. “I think that it’s going to be definitely a very tough team to make,” Johnson acknowledges. Despite the fierce rivalry, Johnson emphasizes the “great camaraderie” within the team. She even highlights the specific skills she admires in her competitors. “Lauren Macuga is such a buttery skier, and she’s very supple,” she notes, while Vonn “has super hard intensity, so I’ve always tried to take that from her.” It’s a testament to the athletes’ professionalism and respect for one another, even amidst intense competition.
Johnson is prepared to fight for her place in any event, whether it’s the downhill, super-G, or even the new team combined event, which will be making its Olympic debut. She already has experience with the team combined format, having partnered with Mikaela Shiffrin to win a gold medal at the World Championships. “It was a really special moment,” Johnson recalls, “both of us had been through so much at that point, and then to team up together and be able to be world champions together… was really cool, and it was a really fun experience.” She described the event as “a super high pressure situation where you feel the weight of somebody else’s dreams on your shoulder, but also you feel somebody else who gets to carry your dream halfway, and that’s super cool.” Shiffrin is expected to focus on the technical events (slalom and giant slalom) in Cortina.
Looking back, Johnson maintains a surprisingly detached perspective on her successes, particularly her 2025 World Championship wins. These victories marked the end of a difficult period, which included a serious injury that sidelined her from the 2022 Olympics and a 14-month suspension for a whereabouts violation. “I just try not to think too much about the past, just move forward and keep working and keep trying to execute my plans,” she explains. “I know that I’m good enough when I ski well.” This season, Johnson is determined to “finish another chapter” in her rollercoaster career.
So, what do you think? Is Breanna Johnson right? Will the women’s downhill in Cortina be the most competitive alpine ski race ever? And how much does team camaraderie really play a role when Olympic dreams are on the line? Share your thoughts in the comments below!