Rising to the Challenge
After a two-year break from competition, Breezy Johnson returned last season with one of the most powerful comebacks the sport has seen. On her return, she captured the Downhill title at the Alpine World Championships and added a Team Combined gold alongside Mikaela Shiffrin, marking a career-best and deeply significant milestone. Despite multiple major knee injuries over the years, she’s remained relentlessly committed, proving herself one of the tour’s toughest competitors.
IN CONVERSATION WITH BREEZY JOHNSON
We asked Breezy a few questions about the mindset behind her standout performances – what drives her, what keeps her pushing forward, and where she finds the fuel to succeed even when the terrain gets tough.
You’ve battled through multiple serious knee injuries and even a 14-month whereabouts-related suspension (NB: the result of an administrative issue stemming from inaccurate location information rather than any performance-enhancing violation). What kept you from walking away from the sport during those setbacks? Where does that drive come from?
I think the suspension was hard because I felt like I might never be able to rejoin the sport. I worried without funding and any support I wouldn't be able to do it. But thankfully so many people supported me and that made the summer training possible. I of course was devastated by what the suspension meant to my reputation as an athlete. I felt like there might always be questions about if I was clean but I thought retiring would confirm those rumours rather than coming back and continuing to show clean tests and upstanding morals trying to fix the system rather than just giving up on it.
At the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, you started first in the downhill and held on to win the whole way. How did you handle the pressure of knowing your run would set the standard for everyone else?
Funny enough I thought setting the standard and forcing everyone to chase me at WSC was easier than having to chase someone else. I knew what I needed to do and though I knew I would be giving some of my secrets (like tucking through the entire middle section) by running first, I would also put the pressure on everyone else that they needed to beat the good run I laid down. And I always have tried to lay my success or failure on giving everything I have rather than the end result. So in the finish I just kept telling myself “you skied your very best”. They either can beat you or they can't. But it's a success no matter what because you left everything out there.
I always try to say “nerves mean you have a chance” – nerves mean you are good enough to have amazing results. That reminds me of the things I am good at and the things I can do, and it helps to calm me.
When the stakes are highest, how do you turn pressure into performance and rise to the challenge?
Well I always adjust the Eleanor Roosevelt quote to 'no one can put pressure on you without your consent' to block out the side noise. What the pundits or media says is only important if I believe it is. So bring in what fuels you and let what doesn't go straight past you. I try to think of nerves and stress as a positive thing because it means I have a chance and I'm about to do amazing things that I have always dreamed of. That helps to ground me and bring me back to my plan.
After achieving something historic for U.S. women’s skiing, what still fuels your drive on the mountain? Is it chasing more titles, personal progression, or something deeper?
I love learning and getting better. My team the last couple years has been incredible and so I love taking on these challenges with them. And then seeing the youth be excited about skiing and those same things makes me want to show them a champion who is authentic and different and inspire them to be the next authentic, different amazing champion.
The Breezy Johnson Collection
