American alpine skier Breezy Johnson clinched the gold medal in the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, edging out Germany’s Emma Aicher by a razor-thin margin of four-hundredths of a second.
It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.
The victory marked Team USA’s first gold of the Games, but it was Johnson’s heartfelt reaction during the medal ceremony that captured global attention.
With her hand placed firmly over her heart, she was visibly moved to tears while mouthing the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
From the moment the American flag ascended, you could tell how much this moment meant to her. And Johnson wasn’t afraid to show off a profound sense of national pride.
To the American Olympic athletes complaining about the United States: be more like Breezy Johnson.
— OutKick (@Outkick) February 8, 2026
THIS is how you show respect for the greatest country in the world. pic.twitter.com/nRKVNw1vqG
Tears of Pride: Breezy Johnson Delivers Emotional Anthem Moment After Historic Gold
Fans on social media erupted in celebration of Johnson’s unapologetic patriotism, praising her as a refreshing example of American spirit amid the Olympic spotlight. Not to mention a contrast to some clowns who have been whining about having to represent the United States.
“THIS IS WHAT TRUE PATRIOTISM LOOKS LIKE!” one fan wrote. “Breezy Johnson cries (during the) National Anthem! She just got TEAM USA their first Gold Medal in the downhill.”
“Congrats to a true American athlete!”
“America strikes first — Breezy Johnson delivers Team USA’s first gold of 2026, tears flowing during the National Anthem,” former West Virginia politician Derrick Evans added. “This is pride you can feel.”
Indeed, it is.
Team USA had a simple three-word response: “That’s our girl.”
🚨 JUST IN: America strikes first — Breezy Johnson delivers Team USA’s first gold of 2026, tears flowing during the National Anthem. This is pride you can feel. 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/P9fQ0GFq5F
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) February 8, 2026
READ MORE: Veterans Rip Team USA Skiers Who Whine About Representing the American Flag
Breezy Johnson should be celebrated everywhere across the United States. Not just for her gold medal, but for her reaction to representing the nation that brought her to the Olympics.
Some U.S. skiers have voiced discontent with representing the U.S. Hunter Hess, another American athlete, admitted to “mixed emotions” about wearing the American flag.
“Just because I wear the flag, it doesn’t mean I represent everything that is going on in the U.S.,” he told reporters.
Veterans responded to Hess’s moronic comments as you might expect. Chad Caton, a veteran and founder of Veterans For Trump Coalition, lambasted Hess.
“What, you ski with that flag on your arm and run your mouth on the world stage??” he wrote on X. “Some of us wore that flag on our arm and buried our friends under it.”
“STFU AND GO PLAY IN THE SNOW.”
President Trump even weighed in, calling Hess a “real loser.”
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this,” the President added.
Let’s hope he follows up with a post celebrating Breezy. She’s easy to root for.