Sofia Goggia celebrates winning a medal. © APA/afp / TIZIANA FABI

After Vonn drama: Goggia wins downhill medal

The drama surrounding Lindsey Vonn dominated the women's Olympic downhill race in Cortina d'Ampezzo. While one of her teammates won gold, Italy also secured another medal.

February 08, 2026

From: dl

On their 50th ride on the Tofana (including training rides) Lindsey Vonn was hit hard. The race was then interrupted for a long time while the American was taken away. Meanwhile, gold went to her teammate Breezy Johnson, who narrowly beat Germany's Emma Aicher and Sofia Goggia. The Italian took bronze.

Johnson's story is remarkable: The 30-year-old had never won a World Cup race before. Last year, she became downhill world champion in Saalbach. Now, a year later, she has also crowned herself Olympic champion in the premier discipline. Ironically, Johnson had torn her cruciate ligament just a few years earlier in Cortina, causing her to miss the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Vonn's teammate Breezy Johnson won downhill gold. © APA/afp / TIZIANA FABI

Silver went to Aicher, who was only four hundredths of a second slower than Johnson. The 22-year-old made a small mistake just before the finish line; otherwise, she could have even won gold. Aicher also competed in Beijing four years ago, winning silver in the team parallel race. Now, the all-rounder can celebrate her first individual medal at the Games.

Bronze for Goggia

Goggia also had reason to celebrate. Vonn's good friend had started just two bib numbers behind her and had to wait a long time in the finish house. But Goggia summoned all her courage and put on a spirited run. With a deficit of 59 hundredths of a second, the 33-year-old secured the bronze medal – thus completing her set of medals: The Italian had already won gold (2018) and silver (2022) in the downhill at the last Olympic Games.

Wearing bib number 26, Cande Moreno from Andorra also suffered a serious fall and had to be taken away with a suspected knee injury. The only South Tyrolean competitor, Nicol Delago, lost considerable time in the upper section of the course. The Val Gardena native ultimately finished in eleventh place – matching her result from Beijing 2022. Federica Brignone finished tenth.

The women's competition at the Cortina Olympics continues on Tuesday with the team combined event. The men will compete in their event on Monday in Bormio.