SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson, who were born just ten months apart, have shared a journey since they first met at a junior ski race when they were eleven years old. Shiffrin recalled feeling somewhat out of place in a sport where young girls were often discouraged from being overly ambitious about their dreams. Today, at 29, Shiffrin stands out as one of the most decorated racers in alpine skiing history, while Johnson has recently begun to break through barriers that have held her back in realizing her full potential.
When both athletes were selected to compete together in the newly introduced team combined event at the world championships, many might have predicted that Shiffrin would take the lead role. Surprisingly, it was Johnson, who captured an unexpected gold medal in the downhill just days prior, who took on the leadership position. Shiffrin, still facing emotional and physical hurdles due to a severe injury from a crash during a race in Killington, Vermont, was initially reluctant to race. Johnson’s encouragement and their longstanding friendship prompted Shiffrin to push through her reservations.
“I haven’t felt like I wanted to be here,” Shiffrin admitted. “So to hear her talking about this like, ‘No, no, it’s fun,’ and she’s throwing herself down this downhill like fearless … She really lifted me up to be able to fully take on this day.”
The format of the event requires one skier to complete a downhill run while another participates in a slalom, with their performances combined to determine the final score. Johnson played a crucial role by finishing fourth in the downhill, providing Shiffrin the optimal position to make her mark. Shiffrin then conquered her fears and delivered a strong performance in the slalom, leading the U.S. team to a gold medal victory. When Shiffrin moved into first place with three skiers remaining, an emotional Johnson rushed into the finish area to celebrate her teammate’s success.
This achievement marked Johnson’s second gold in four days, and for Shiffrin, it was her 15th medal at the world championships, a feat that ties her with German skiing legend Christl Cranz, who set the record in the 1930s. “Thank you for a memory that tops the list of any medal I’ve ever won,” Shiffrin expressed to Johnson, highlighting the significance of their partnership.
As the competition progressed, it became clear that the U.S. team had made the right choices for the event, despite previous discussions about who would be best paired with Shiffrin. Lindsey Vonn, who made a comeback at the age of 40, finished in 16th place alongside her teammate AJ Hurt. Lauren Macuga led the downhill run for another American team but fell short as Paula Moltzan could not maintain their lead, ultimately finishing in fourth place. The silver medal went to Swiss skiers Lara Gut-Behrami and Wendy Holdener, who celebrated their ninth and eighth world championship medals, respectively. The bronze medalists were Austrian racers Stephanie Venier and Katharina Truppe.
The day’s standout moment undeniably belonged to Shiffrin. Just ten weeks post-injury, she demonstrated remarkable resilience after suffering significant trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep wound on her abdomen that made even everyday actions painful. Shiffrin initially struggled with core strength, crucial for skiing performance. “The obliques are really important for skiing,” Johnson pointed out. “So to see her come back in two months when like all of mine have taken me years, this is super impressive.”
Shiffrin’s coach, Karin Harjo, acknowledged the challenges the athlete faced: “At any point in the last 10 weeks, we were just thinking about the next step and hoping we could make it.”
Johnson has also been on the path to recovery after a series of injuries and a 14-month suspension for missing doping tests, which ended two months ago. Reflecting on their journey, Shiffrin remarked, “So many things had to happen in the last … how long it’s been since we were 11.” This new event is set to debut at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games one year from now, adding excitement to the winter sports calendar.
As for Shiffrin, she has the opportunity to break Cranz’s record in the next slalom event, while also eyeing her 100th World Cup victory in Sestriere, Italy, the week following the championships, promising more thrilling moments ahead in her illustrious career.
