Childhood friends Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson dominated the Team Combined event on Tuesday at the Saalbach 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships, capping off a spectacular few days for the duo.
Just 24 hours after opening up about the “mental/PTSD struggles” she’s faced since suffering a severe core injury ten weeks ago, Shiffrin showcased immense mental resilience. She turned Johnson’s fourth-place Downhill finish into a gold medal-winning Slalom run, proving her strength in every sense.
With this victory, Shiffrin ties Germany’s Christl Cranz for the most World Championship medals in history, with 15. Her eighth gold medal also moves her into second place in the all-time rankings for individual golds.
While Johnson’s statistics don’t yet rival Shiffrin’s, her accomplishments at Saalbach are remarkable in their own right. The Downhill champion has claimed two World Championship crowns in just four days—this from an athlete who had never won an elite-level race before arriving in Saalbach.
“This is what makes sport so emotional,” said Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami (Head), reflecting on the champions’ inspiring performances.
It was an emotional day for Gut-Behrami as well. Despite finishing just 12th in the morning’s Downhill run, her partner Wendy Holdener (SUI/Head) delivered a breathtaking Slalom performance, clinching silver for Switzerland. This medal is Holdener’s eighth at the World Championships and Gut-Behrami’s ninth, much to the delight of an energized crowd.
Fans also celebrated Katharina Truppe (AUT/Voelkl) and Stephanie Venier (Head), who powered to bronze for Austria. Truppe’s dazzling Slalom run ensured the host nation had something to cheer.
The Team Combined event wasn’t without its drama. None of the top three teams after the Downhill carried their advantage to the podium. Team USA 2 came closest. Paula Moltzan (Rossignol) fought hard in the Slalom but fell short, leaving her and Lauren Macuga (Rossignol) in fourth place.
Tuesday, however, belonged to Johnson and Shiffrin. Johnson spoke openly about her admiration for Shiffrin’s swift recovery from a core injury, highlighting the difficulty of bouncing back in a sport as physically demanding as skiing.
"You can't really explain how vital your core muscles are for skiing unless you've been through it,” said Johnson. “To see her come back from something like this in just two months—it’s unbelievable. I’ve been through years of similar injuries, and I just wanted to help her because she deserves everything after what she’s been through.”
Johnson herself delivered a stellar Downhill performance, clocking a time of 1:42.11 and giving Shiffrin exactly the platform she needed. Their mutual support proved pivotal.
“I talked to Breezy, and she said, ‘Don’t do this for the medal; do it because you love it,’” Shiffrin shared. “Her fearlessness reminded me why I love this sport. She really lifted me up today.”
Shiffrin now turns her sights on Saturday’s Slalom, where she has the chance to stake her claim to sole ownership of the all-time World Championship medal record.
Holdener’s Slalom run not only secured silver for Switzerland, but it left even her partner Gut-Behrami in awe.
“I knew she could do that—it’s Wendy,” Gut-Behrami said, smiling. “It’s fun to race with her, and it’s exciting to see a new format like this bring out something special in all of us.”
Holdener admitted the pressure was intense but noted, “We had nothing to lose. I just had to go full gas, and it worked out.”
Team Austria’s Venier and Truppe, self-proclaimed "Team Always Funny," embraced the wild energy of the event.
“I told Truppe to go all in with the right mindset, and she nailed it. This is crazy—it feels amazing to share the podium together,” said Venier, already a Super G gold medalist at these championships.
Not everyone found success on the challenging slopes of Saalbach. Katharina Liensberger (AUT/Rossignol) pushed too hard, missing a chance at a medal despite a strong Downhill performance. For Germany, two teams entered the afternoon rounds poised for victory, but costly mistakes relegated them far from the podium.
Even Lindsey Vonn (USA/Head), the legendary skier making a comeback at age 40, left Saalbach disappointed. Her morning Downhill time was off pace, and she acknowledged needing time to refine her setup.
"It's frustrating, but I know I’ve got work to do," Vonn said. “I’ll figure it out, but for now, I just need some patience.”
While the competition was fierce, the debut of the Team Combined event left an indelible impression on fans and athletes alike. Macuga, only 18, praised the format, saying, “Seeing the best Downhill and Slalom skiers come together in one day like this is so much fun. I love this event.”
It wasn’t just Macuga who felt the magic. From record-breaking performances to inspiring comebacks, the inaugural Team Combined event celebrated the essence of ski racing—heart, resilience, and the joy of competition.