The 2025 World Ski Championships held at Saalbach-Hinterglemm concluded with the thrilling Women's Downhill event, where American skier Breezy Johnson secured her first gold medal with an impressive time of 1:41.29. Johnson, who skied down the challenging 'Ulli Maier' course, managed to outpace her competitors, including Austria's Mirjam Puchner and Czech skier Ester Ledecka, who took home silver and bronze, respectively.
The event, which took place on February 8, 2025, at 11:30 AM, attracted huge global attention, especially as this marked the culmination of intense competitions at the Championships. Facing off against 33 other talented athletes, Johnson's victory was particularly significant, as the Italian team had not secured gold in the women's downhill race for 93 years.
Johnson described her victory as both exhilarating and overdue, coming after she had served a 14-month suspension due to doping violations related to missed tests. "I knew this victory was possible. I just had to focus on my performance and trust my training," she shared after her win.
Puchner, who finished mere 0.15 seconds behind Johnson, stated, "I gave it my all and really pushed through. It was tough but exhilarating to compete with the best." Ledecka followed closely, finishing 0.21 seconds back, marking her significant return to the podium.
The Italian team, meanwhile, faced disappointment. Federica Brignone, who was hopeful heading to the Championships, finished 10th, one of the many athletes from Italy who fell short of podium placements. "I tried hard but I just didn't have the speed today," Brignone reflected, emphasizing her shift back to focusing on the giant slalom rounds to come.
Another favorite, Sofia Goggia, finished 11th and expressed her frustration following the race. She had suffered from performance anxiety due to her recent fall during practice. "I knew it would be difficult. This track doesn’t suit my technique, and I struggled to find my rhythm," Goggia explained to Rai Sport, demonstrating her disappointment but promising to turn her focus to upcoming events.
Italy's Nicol Delago, who had hoped to challenge for the title, finished 6th. She expressed her satisfaction with her performance, particularly considering her recovery following injuries sustained the previous season. “I’m very satisfied and had fun — this was all about chasing after my injury from September,” Delago stated.
Laura Pirovano, another Italian hopeful, summarized her race: "I couldn’t accelerate as hoped, but I believe I've improved compared to the trials, and I have no regrets about my effort today. It’s all part of learning and growing." Following intense competition, Vonn completed her run, finishing 14th, just 1 centisecond faster than Goggia.
The event itself highlighted the demanding nature of the 'Ulli Maier' course, which features challenges unique to speed events, often favoring those with stronger points of speed rather than technical prowess. This aspect was noted by many competitors, including Goggia, who described the course as one suited for speedsters.
Looking to the future, the Italian team will need to reassess their strategies as they prepare for upcoming events, all aspiring to reclaim glory at the World Championships. History shows they have formidable talent, yet the podium remains just out of reach. Will they be able to turn the page and write new history next time? Only upcoming competitions will tell.