SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — Friends since their early days in the sport, Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, who are just ten months apart in age, met as young competitors at a junior race. Reflecting on their upbringing, Shiffrin noted that they often felt “a little bit lost in a world where young girls were not really supposed to be as ambitious as we were.” Now at the age of 29, Shiffrin has made her mark as the most decorated skier in history, while Johnson has recently started to tap into her potential after facing significant hurdles.
When the two were teamed up for the inaugural combined event at the world championships, it was expected that Shiffrin would take charge as the more experienced athlete. However, in an unexpected twist, it was Johnson who emerged as the leader, having just claimed an upset gold medal in the downhill event. Shiffrin found herself hesitant to compete, grappling with lingering fears after a serious crash in Killington, Vermont, which left her with a painful injury.
It was Johnson who encouraged Shiffrin to join her in the race. Shiffrin admitted, “I haven’t felt like I wanted to be here,” but Johnson’s positive spirit proved infectious. She spoke about making the event enjoyable, demonstrating great courage as she effortlessly descended the downhill course, which helped motivate Shiffrin to confront her fears.
The new format of this competition required one skier to race downhill while the other raced in the slalom, with their times being combined for the final score. Johnson laid a solid foundation for the duo by finishing fourth in the downhill, setting the stage for Shiffrin, who overcame her fears with a strong performance in the slalom, ultimately securing gold for them both. As Shiffrin took the lead, Johnson dashed to the finish area to celebrate with her teammate, solidifying their victory.
This win marked Johnson’s second gold in just four days and brought Shiffrin’s total medal count at the world championships to 15, tying the historical record set by German skier Christl Cranz back in the 1930s. Expressing her gratitude, Shiffrin told Johnson, “Thank you for a memory that tops the list of any medal I’ve ever won.”
In the aftermath of their triumphant performance, the question regarding the selection of the U.S. team was put to rest, especially considering that Lindsey Vonn had aimed to pair with Shiffrin for a “dream team” scenario. Vonn, who is making a comeback at 40, ended up finishing 16th alongside her partner AJ Hurt.
Other competitors included Lauren Macuga leading the downhill leg for her team, although her partner Paula Moltzan couldn’t maintain the lead, leaving them in fourth place overall. The silver medal went to the Swiss pair Lara Gut-Behrami and Wendy Holdener, both of whom have amassed multiple medals throughout their careers, while the bronze was claimed by Austria’s Stephanie Venier and Katharina Truppe.
Among the most noteworthy achievements of the day was Shiffrin’s resilience, especially considering she had recently faced significant physical setbacks from her crash, which had left her with severe abdominal injuries. Her recovery was remarkable; she initially struggled to perform basic movements, highlighting the core strength crucial to skiing.
Johnson commented on Shiffrin’s comeback, emphasizing that recovering from such an injury in two months is a remarkable feat compared to others who have taken years to recover. Shiffrin’s coach, Karin Harjo, also acknowledged her bravery and strength throughout their training and competition.
Johnson, for her part, has also been navigating her path back to competitive skiing after encountering injuries that sidelined her from the Beijing Olympics and enduring a 14-month suspension for missing doping tests, which just recently expired.
Reflecting on their journey since age 11, Shiffrin noted the remarkable series of events that led to this moment, including the introduction of the new event, which is set to debut at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics in a year.
Looking ahead, Shiffrin may have more records to break. Although she opted out of the giant slalom due to her fears, she has the opportunity to surpass Cranz’s medal record in the upcoming slalom. Moreover, Shiffrin is poised to aim for an unprecedented 100th World Cup victory in Sestriere, Italy, just a week later.
