gouden week voor breezy johnson: olympisch kampioene en verloofde

2026-02-12 sport

Cortina d’Ampezzo, donderdag, 12 februari 2026.
De Amerikaanse skiester Breezy Johnson viert op donderdag 12 februari 2026 een dubbele triomf in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Na een zware val in de super-G wordt ze verrast door haar vriend Connor Watkins, die ten huwelijk vraagt bij de finishlijn. Het moment vindt plaats vlak na haar eigen goudmedaille in de afdaling. Teamgenoten juichen mee terwijl Johnson instemt met het huwelijk. De ring bevat een opvallende blauwe saffier. Volgens Johnson leefde ze altijd met de droom om op de Olympische Spelen te worden gevraagd. Het huwelijksaanzoek trekt wereldwijde aandacht en wordt een van de meest emotionele momenten van de Spelen tot nu toe.

a golden moment amidst adversity

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, American alpine skier Breezy Johnson experienced a profound personal milestone immediately after crashing in the women’s super-G event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo [1]. As she crossed the finish line following her fall, her boyfriend Connor Watkins knelt with an engagement ring, proposing in front of her U.S. Ski Team colleagues and international spectators [2]. Johnson accepted the proposal, replying “yes” amid cheers from teammates and supporters [3]. The emotional scene unfolded despite her unsuccessful race outcome, marking a poignant contrast between athletic disappointment and personal joy [4].

a dream realized at the olympics

Johnson revealed she had long envisioned becoming engaged at the Olympic Games, calling it a lifelong dream [5]. Her relationship with Watkins began in 2023 through the dating app Bumble, where he initially did not recognize her as a professional athlete [6]. Their first date took place over brunch, beginning a partnership that endured the pressures of elite competition and public attention [6]. According to Johnson, the experience surpassed her expectations, describing the reality as “so different than the way you imagined, and so much better” [5]. The couple’s journey from casual meeting to Olympic engagement underscores a deeply personal narrative unfolding on a global stage [7].

from triumph to heartbreak on the slopes

Just days prior, Johnson claimed gold in the women’s downhill event on February 9, 2026, solidifying her status among alpine skiing’s elite [1]. However, her momentum faltered in subsequent competitions; she and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin failed to medal in the women’s combined event [1]. During the super-G race, Johnson lost control mid-run, veering off-course after a jump and colliding with protective netting [8]. Despite the crash, she regained her feet and skied to the finish under her own power [8]. Official results confirm she did not record a completed time, joining sixteen other athletes listed as did-not-finish (DNF) due to errors on the challenging course [9].

symbolism of the engagement ring and future plans

The engagement ring presented to Johnson features a distinctive blue saffier surrounded by white sapphires, mounted in white gold—a design choice reflecting both elegance and symbolism [3]. Accompanying the proposal was a personalized gift inscribed with a romantic Taylor Swift lyric, adding a sentimental touch widely shared across social media platforms [10]. Watkins reportedly planned the gesture for over a year, coordinating logistics with Olympic staff to secure access to the finish area [3]. A U.S. Ski Team official discreetly assessed Johnson’s emotional state post-crash to determine whether proceeding with the proposal would be appropriate [8]. With her enthusiastic consent, the moment became one of the most viral and heartfelt episodes of the 2026 Winter Games [7].

Bronnen

Breezy Johnson huwelijksaanzoek