American Skier Breezy Johnson Wins Gold Medal and Engagement Ring at 2026 Olympics
American alpine skier Breezy Johnson experienced a whirlwind of emotions at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milana-Cortina, Italy, securing a gold medal and an engagement ring within days. Johnson, a prominent figure in downhill skiing, claimed the top spot on the podium in the downhill event on Sunday, but faced a dramatic turn of events later in the week.
From Victory to Crash: A Rollercoaster Olympic Journey
Just days after her gold medal triumph, Johnson crashed out of the super-G competition on Thursday, merely 20 seconds after starting the race. The disappointment of the early exit, however, was swiftly overshadowed by a heartwarming surprise awaiting her at the bottom of the course.
Her partner, Connor Watkins, had been planning a special moment for nearly a year. Watkins got down on one knee and proposed with a custom-made ring, featuring a blue sapphire surrounded by white sapphires on a white gold band. Johnson shared the news on Instagram, exclaiming, "Hey guys… meet Connor! My ex boyfriend! And current fiancé!!!"
A Love Story Born on Bumble
The couple's romance began over two years ago when they connected on the dating app Bumble. Their first date was a brunch, where Watkins initially had no idea Johnson was a professional athlete. "I think it was like 10 minutes into the conversation, I was like, 'Hey, what do you do?'" Watkins recalled in an interview with The Washington Post. "That was an interesting answer at first, and I was a little taken aback. I had very little knowledge of ski racing or anything else."
Watkins revealed that Johnson had previously expressed her dream of getting engaged at the Olympics, making the proposal timing particularly fitting. "It felt fitting to kind of combine two of my loves," Johnson said. "I don't know. It's a special place at the Olympics. I feel like there's a lot of mystique around it."
Strategic Proposal Planning Amid Olympic Pressure
Watkins had to carefully navigate the emotional aftermath of Johnson's crash before proceeding with the proposal. He enlisted Megan Harrod, Mikaela Shiffrin's full-time publicist, to check on Johnson's state of mind. "Just seeing him (Watkins), I was just like, 'Yeah, it's nice to see you. Let's go commiserate a little bit together.' And then everything else happened," Johnson explained.
The super-G event marked Johnson's final competition of the Games, allowing Watkins to time the proposal perfectly to avoid distracting her from her athletic focus. With the race concluded, Johnson now holds the dual titles of Olympic gold medallist and fiancée. "I think most people want to peak at the Olympics," she remarked. "I just extra peaked."
This engagement adds a personal milestone to Johnson's already impressive Olympic achievements, highlighting a memorable chapter in her skiing career and personal life.
