Breezy Johnson, the 30-year-old American skier who has been hailed as a potential successor to Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin's throne, is facing her biggest challenge yet: living with doubt and fear on the slopes. After a year-long hiatus from competition due to whereabouts failures, Johnson returned to action at the Birds of Prey downhill course in Colorado, where she posted a solid 13th-place finish that marked a successful comeback.
However, Johnson's road to recovery has been marred by personal demons. The skier, who had previously suffered a broken leg and shredded ligaments in both knees, has been open about her struggles with self-doubt and perfectionism. In an Instagram post earlier this year, she apologized for missing three random drug tests, which resulted in a 14-month ban from competition. Johnson vowed to use the time away to improve herself and promised to "see you at Birds of Prey!"
Despite her setbacks, Johnson has continued to work on her mental toughness, drawing on experiences from past injury rehabs to fuel her self-improvement efforts. She told the Washington Post that she felt like a "criminal" during her suspension but instead chose to focus on getting better, watching her rivals train and sharpening her numbers in solitude.
Now, with her momentum building, Johnson is poised to make a significant impact at the upcoming Olympic women's downhill event in Cortina. The results of her return from injury have solidified her place as Shiffrin's speed complement on Team USA, providing insurance against Vonn's recent ACL injury. With everything to ski for and no headwind in sight, Johnson is finally back on track, determined to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.
"I'm like, your next Olympics are definitely not guaranteed," she said this week. "You never know when the journey will end, and so you have to seize the opportunities that are in front of you." With her newfound confidence and determination, Johnson is ready to face whatever challenges come her way, including the pressure of living up to her own expectations.
However, Johnson's road to recovery has been marred by personal demons. The skier, who had previously suffered a broken leg and shredded ligaments in both knees, has been open about her struggles with self-doubt and perfectionism. In an Instagram post earlier this year, she apologized for missing three random drug tests, which resulted in a 14-month ban from competition. Johnson vowed to use the time away to improve herself and promised to "see you at Birds of Prey!"
Despite her setbacks, Johnson has continued to work on her mental toughness, drawing on experiences from past injury rehabs to fuel her self-improvement efforts. She told the Washington Post that she felt like a "criminal" during her suspension but instead chose to focus on getting better, watching her rivals train and sharpening her numbers in solitude.
Now, with her momentum building, Johnson is poised to make a significant impact at the upcoming Olympic women's downhill event in Cortina. The results of her return from injury have solidified her place as Shiffrin's speed complement on Team USA, providing insurance against Vonn's recent ACL injury. With everything to ski for and no headwind in sight, Johnson is finally back on track, determined to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.
"I'm like, your next Olympics are definitely not guaranteed," she said this week. "You never know when the journey will end, and so you have to seize the opportunities that are in front of you." With her newfound confidence and determination, Johnson is ready to face whatever challenges come her way, including the pressure of living up to her own expectations.
. She's got a lot on her plate right now, what with the Olympics looming and all that pressure, but it's cool that she's embracing it head-on 
. Still, gotta wonder if she's gonna be able to shake off some of that self-doubt... I mean, 14 months is a long time to sit out, especially for someone who's always known so much pressure 
. And what about those missed drug tests? That could've derailed her whole comeback - glad she was able to bounce back from that 
.
Can't wait to see how she holds up under pressure at the Olympics though! 
. and yeah, 14 months is a long time to be away from comp, but i think it's actually helped her in the end... she's like "see you at Birds of Prey" and now she's back with a bang 
. But, at the same time, I'm really proud of her for using that time to work on herself and get better 
. She's got this Olympic momentum going for her now, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't think she could totally rock that downhill course at Cortina 
. Bring it on!
and i love how she's using her past experiences from injury rehabs to fuel her comeback, that's some next level mental toughness right there 
She's been through so much already and still manages to bounce back stronger than ever 
I mean, 14-month ban from competition? That's huge, girl! 
But instead of letting it get her down, she used that time to improve herself and sharpen those skills 
This is gonna be EPIC! 
Can't wait to see what she does in Cortina! 
have you tried those new ramen shops downtown? They're like, whoa! I mean, Breezy Johnson's comeback is cool and all, but let's be real, that's some intense pressure right there 
. I love how she's using her experiences to fuel her self-improvement efforts 
. And hey, 13th place at Birds of Prey isn't bad for a comeback kid 
- struggles with self-doubt and perfectionism, still can't seem to get it together 
. i'm not sure if she's over the hump or just stuck in neutral 
. all she can say is "see you at the Olympics" like it's some grand reveal 
. btw, her rivalry with shiffrin will be on point 
! She's got this 
but seriously, it takes a lot of guts to own up to your mistakes and use them as an opportunity for growth. 14 months off from competition? that's like, forever! 
I'm hyped to see her crush it at the Olympics though 
As she enters the Olympic women's downhill event, it'll be intriguing to see how she navigates the pressure of living up to her own expectations, while also being mindful of the weight of her team's reliance on her performance.
. I mean, who hasn't struggled with self-doubt or fear at some point? 
! Now, with the Olympics on the horizon, it'll be fascinating to see how she balances her own expectations with the pressure of performing at the highest level 
. Wish her all the best – I'm rooting for her from the sidelines 
.