On Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, American alpine skier Breezy Johnson, 30, crashed out of the women’s super-G but accepted a surprise engagement from boyfriend Connor Watkins about an hour later at the base of the course. Johnson had already won gold in the downhill earlier in the 2026 Games, making the day a mix of triumph and abrupt disappointment. The crash left her in the course’s catch fence briefly, but she was able to rise and walk away from the scene. Teammates and fellow competitors surrounded the couple as Watkins proposed and Johnson accepted in an emotional moment.
Key takeaways
- Johnson won Olympic gold in the downhill earlier in the 2026 Games, securing a top podium finish for Team USA.
- She crashed in the women’s super-G on the morning of Feb. 12, 2026, after catching her right pole on a gate shortly after a high-speed chute.
- Johnson ended up in the catch fence but was able to get to her feet; reports do not indicate a serious injury on site.
- About an hour after the super-G finish, boyfriend Connor Watkins proposed at the base of the Cortina course; NBC described the ring as silver with a blue gem.
- The super-G was Johnson’s third and final event at the 2026 Olympics; roughly a dozen racers in that race crashed out or skied off course.
- Johnson publicly came out as bisexual in 2022; her visibility has been noted throughout these Games.
- Mikaela Shiffrin’s slalom troubles affected the combined standings after Johnson had handed her a lead in the downhill portion.
Background
Breezy Johnson entered the 2026 Winter Olympics with momentum from World Cup seasons and a strong downhill campaign that culminated in Olympic gold in Cortina. The super-G, a discipline that blends the speed of downhill with the technical gates of giant slalom, is prone to high speeds and abrupt, race-ending errors; crashes and DNFs are common at elite levels. Cortina’s course features a speed-building chute that funnels racers into technical sections where timing and equipment handling are decisive. For Johnson, who had already secured the marquee downhill victory, the super-G represented a final chance at another medal in the Games.
The 2026 alpine program saw intense rivalry among the U.S. women, including established stars such as Mikaela Shiffrin. Combined and multi-discipline standings can shift quickly; a fast downhill run can hand a competitor the lead only to be overturned in the slalom portion. Athletic safety protocols at the Games emphasize quick medical assessment and athlete transport when needed, while teammates and national staff typically provide immediate emotional and logistical support at the finish area.
Main event
During Thursday’s women’s super-G, Johnson appeared competitive early before a crucial equipment interaction: her right pole reportedly caught a gate soon after she exited a speed-building chute, which disrupted her balance. The loss of rhythm at those speeds sent her into the catch fence rather than down the remainder of the course. Photographs and on-site reports indicated she rose under her own power and left the finish area with assistance nearby, with no immediate transfer for severe on-site care reported.
Approximately an hour after the race, at the base of the Cortina finish zone, Connor Watkins proposed to Johnson. The moment drew in fellow competitors and support staff, creating a closely gathered scene of teammates and onlookers. Media accounts described the exchange as emotional, and NBC characterized the ring as silver with a central blue stone. The ceremony was brief and private-by-impromptu-standards, with family and teammates nearby.
The super-G result marked Johnson’s final event at these Games. Having earned gold in the downhill earlier in the week, she had been in position to contend for the combined standings; however, shifts in slalom performance by rivals like Mikaela Shiffrin altered those prospects. Race officials later confirmed that about a dozen competitors either crashed or skied off course during the same super-G, underscoring the event’s difficulty.
Analysis & implications
On the personal level, the day underscores the dual realities elite athletes face: intense professional highs alongside sudden sporting setbacks. Johnson leaves the 2026 Olympics with a gold medal that cements her status in downhill history, even as the super-G crash closed her competitive program abruptly. The engagement immediately reframed media narratives from a race result to a human-interest arc that blends sport, resilience, and personal life.
For Team USA alpine, Johnson’s downhill gold is a medal-lift and morale booster; losing a contender in the super-G and having multiple DNFs across the field highlights course difficulty and the margin for error at this level. Coaches and race teams will likely review equipment setup and course strategy that produced multiple incidents in the same run. Longer term, Johnson’s visibility — including her 2022 coming out — continues to carry significance for representation in winter sports.
From a commercial and media perspective, the juxtaposition of an Olympic gold and a high-profile engagement can amplify an athlete’s brand, creating durable storytelling opportunities for sponsors and rights holders. But sports coverage must balance celebration with clarity about health and competitive status; immediate narratives should not obscure any medical follow-up or recovery timelines if they arise. Finally, the incident may prompt renewed attention to course design and safety measures in high-speed alpine events.
Comparison & data
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Downhill (2026 Olympics) | Gold (victory) |
| Super-G (Feb. 12, 2026) | Crash / DNF (caught right pole, ended in catch fence) |
| Events entered (2026) | 3 (super-G was her third and final event) |
The table summarizes Johnson’s official outcomes at the 2026 Games: a downhill gold and a super-G crash that concluded her competition. That mix — a top podium finish and a DNF — is not uncommon in speed events where tiny errors have outsized consequences. Race organizers reported around a dozen competitors failed to finish the super-G, which contextualizes Johnson’s incident as part of a broader pattern on that course rather than an isolated equipment failure alone.
Reactions & quotes
NBC described the engagement ring as silver with a blue gem at its center as teammates gathered around the couple at the finish area.
NBC (broadcast report)
Associated Press coverage noted Johnson was able to rise after the crash and walk away from the catch fence, with no immediate indication of severe injury on site.
Associated Press (news agency)
Team responses on the snow combined concern for Johnson’s well-being with congratulations for her earlier downhill victory and the couple’s engagement, reflecting both sporting and personal support.
Team USA / on-site observers
Unconfirmed
- Exact details of any medical evaluation beyond on-site observation have not been publicly released.
- Material and maker details for the engagement ring beyond NBC’s visual description remain unverified.
- Timing described as “about an hour later” is based on media reports and may be an approximation of when the proposal occurred after the race.
Bottom line
Breezy Johnson’s 2026 Olympic storybook contains both a crowning athletic achievement and a sudden competitive setback: downhill gold followed by a super-G crash that ended her program in Cortina. The immediate aftermath — an on-course proposal and acceptance — shifted attention from result to resilience and personal celebration, while leaving open routine questions about any follow-up care.
For sport watchers, Johnson’s Games will be remembered chiefly for her Olympic downhill title, but the super-G episode underscores the razor-thin margins of elite alpine racing. Observers should expect formal medical or team statements if further details about her condition emerge, and the broader alpine community will likely review the race’s conditions that produced multiple DNFs on the same day.
Sources
- New York Post — news outlet report summarizing event and ceremony
- Associated Press — news agency coverage referenced for on-site observations
- NBC — broadcast coverage cited for visual description of the engagement ring