US skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson won the gold medal in the new team combined event at the Alpine skiing world championships, extending Shiffrin’s career-best week. The top American team rose from fourth place after the downhill leg to take the lead when leaders faltered in the slalom.
Johnson, who won the downhill gold on Saturday, left the duo 0.51 seconds off the lead of their compatriots but still managed to secure the win. Austria’s Mirjam Puchner and Katharina Liensberger took silver and bronze respectively.
Shiffrin, making her return from a two-month absence after a giant slalom crash in November, posted the third-best time in the afternoon slalom. Johnson praised Shiffrin’s talent and credited her for helping him achieve his goal of winning gold.
The win marks a significant milestone for Johnson, who has never won a World Cup race but now has two world titles in four days. The US duo’s friendship and chemistry were key factors in their success, with both skiers saying they enjoyed the experience despite initial nerves.
The team-combined event was making its world championship debut and will also be part of the 2026 Olympics program in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6128527/2025/02/11/mikaela-shiffrin-breezy-johnson-team-combined-gold-world-championships