Breezy Johnson gets engaged after downhill gold at Winter Olympics 2026 as boyfriend Connor Watkins surprises her with proposal (AP photo/ Andy Wong)

American skier Breezy Johnson experienced one of the most emotional days of her career at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Just days after winning the women’s downhill gold medal, the 30-year-old added a personal milestone. Her boyfriend, Connor Watkins, proposed at the finish area of the super-G course. Surrounded by athletes and officials, Johnson became emotional and accepted the ring. The proposal happened shortly after she crashed out of the super-G race.The moment created a sharp contrast between sport and personal life. Johnson had entered the event hoping for another medal but could not finish the race. Earlier in the week, she narrowly missed a podium in the team combined event with Mikaela Shiffrin. Watkins had also been in the stands cheering during her downhill victory. Johnson has previously shared publicly that she is bisexual and said she chose to openly share her identity with fans.

Crash and a tough race day for Breezy Johnson turns romantic with marriage proposal

Connor Watkins wore a USA team jacket and knelt near the finish line. He held out a silver ring with a blue stone in the center as reported by NBC News. Breezy Johnson covered her sunglasses with her hand and became tearful. After she said yes, the couple embraced while teammates applauded nearby.The proposal followed a difficult race. More than a dozen skiers failed to finish the super-G. Johnson was among them after losing control on the demanding course. Fog covered part of the upper section of the mountain. The slope, usually considered manageable, became risky. Many racers carried too much speed and skidded out.Two other Americans, Jackie Wiles and Keely Cashman, also competed, along with Mary Bocock. However, the United States stayed far from the podium. Italian favorite Federica Brignone delivered a powerful early run. She clocked 1 minute, 31.41 seconds and no one could beat the time. France’s Romane Miradoli took silver while Austria’s Laura Pirovano claimed bronze.Italy’s Sofia Goggia and Germany’s Emma Aicher were also among the contenders. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson chased her country’s first Alpine Olympic medal in decades but fell short.Johnson’s Olympic week still remained memorable. She joined Lindsey Vonn as the only American women to win downhill gold at the Games. Despite the crash and missed medals, she left the mountain with a championship title, and a wedding to plan!