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American skier Breezy Johnson clinched the gold medal in the women's downhill event at the Alpine skiing world championships held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria. Johnson's impressive performance saw her finish 0.15 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria, who secured the silver medal. Ester Ledecka from the Czech Republic claimed the bronze, trailing 0.21 seconds behind Johnson.
Notably, veteran skier Lindsey Vonn, who finished 15th, was 1.96 seconds behind her compatriot Johnson. Vonn, a decorated athlete, made a comeback to the skiing circuit this season after retiring in 2019 due to injuries. She showcased her resilience by returning with a new titanium right knee.
This victory marked Johnson's first major event medal, coming just two months after her return from a 14-month ban for three anti-doping violations. Despite not having won a World Cup race yet, the talented skier from Jackson, Wyoming, has achieved seven podium finishes, with her last one dating back to December 2021.
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Johnson's journey has been marred by setbacks, including missing the 2018-19 season due to a knee injury and sitting out the 2022 Olympics due to another injury. However, her determination and perseverance have now paid off with this remarkable gold medal win at the world championships.
The race took place on a significant date, exactly one year before the downhill event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting future for Johnson and her fellow competitors.
For more updates on Alpine skiing and other sports news, visit the AP skiing hub at apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing.