The German alpine skier Emma Aicher won the silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. It is the first medal for the German team. The 22-year-old was in second place, just 0.04 seconds behind world champion Breezy Johnson from the USA. The Italian Sofia Goggia (+0.59 seconds) took third place and took bronze.
“It felt wild, every jump tore me up, I didn’t do what I wanted to do, but luckily it went well again,” said Aicher on ZDF. Aicher was faster than Johnson in the upper section of the route.
Johnson became downhill world champion in 2025, but has never won a World Cup race. For Aicher it is the second Olympic medal after silver in 2022 with the team. The first two World Cup victories followed last March, and two more this season. At the World Cup five years ago, Aicher also contributed to bronze in the team competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo without any World Cup experience.
Kira Weidle-Winkelmann in ninth place
At the Winter Games, Aicher has further medal chances in the team combination, super-G and slalom. Aicher’s teammate Kira Weidle-Winkelmann also competed in the downhill with ambitions for a medal. But it was only enough for them to finish ninth (+1.16 seconds).
US ski star Lindsey Vonn was eliminated from the race after 13 seconds of driving, missing her goal of a second Olympic gold medal in 16 years. The 41-year-old American, who competed despite a torn cruciate ligament in her left knee, fell badly and had to be transported away by rescue helicopter.
Stay tuned to our blog for more Winter Olympics news.
