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Johnson is World Ski Champion in Downhill
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Saalbach 2025 once again bring surprises and emotional comebacks. The women's downhill race delivered an especially remarkable story: American Breezy Johnson sensationally secured the gold medal after a 14-month competition ban, claiming her first victory and crowning herself downhill world champion.
Johnson was banned for over a year because she was unavailable for multiple doping tests. Missing three tests within twelve months counts as a violation of anti-doping rules, which led to her suspension. Without a spot on the U.S. Ski Team, she fought her way back independently and proved her incredible mental and physical strength in Saalbach Hinterglemm. With a breathtaking run, she left the competition behind and stood at the top of the podium. An emotional triumph for the American!
"You go out every day and try to win, and today I did. That's crazy."
- Johnson says visibly moved in the victory interview
Home fans also have reason to celebrate: Austria leads the medal standings after four events, and a successful "Sonnenschein-WM 2.0" (Sunshine World Championship 2.0) is taking shape. Saalbach Hinterglemm continues to impress with radiant sunshine in the fourth of eleven events.
Behind Johnson, Austria's Mirjam Puchner secured silver, while versatile Czech athlete Ester Ledecká claimed bronze. Both delivered strong performances on the challenging course with its pronounced waves, confirming their training results. Both Lara Gut-Behrami and Sofia Goggia fell short of expectations and missed out on the medals they had hoped for. While both athletes have excelled on the big stage in the past, they couldn't find their usual top form this time. In Saalbach Hinterglemm, a new name is now written in the history books of the World Championships, as Breezy Johnson seized the opportunity and can now call herself world champion.
A special highlight of this World Championship is the incredible support from fans along the course. From start to finish, the athletes were loudly cheered on by ski sport enthusiasts, creating a unique atmosphere.
It will be exciting to see what the upcoming events bring!
