CORTINA d’AMPEZZO, Italy — Breezy Johnson’s experience at the Milan Cortina Olympics has been one filled with personal triumphs. The 30-year-old American skier arrived at this beautiful resort in the Dolomites as a competitor but leaves with not just a gold medal but also an engagement ring, marking a memorable weekend in her life.
On Sunday, Johnson clinched first place in the downhill event, solidifying her status among the ski racing elite. However, her journey had its challenges; she crashed out of Thursday’s super-G, an event that was ultimately won by Italian veteran Federica Brignone. Despite the setback, the disappointment quickly vanished when her boyfriend, Connor Watkins, offered support at the bottom of the course.
Watkins, who works in construction in Salt Lake City and hails from Georgia, first crossed paths with Johnson through the dating app Bumble. During their first brunch together, he was unaware of her prestigious standing in the sports world. “I think it was like 10 minutes into the conversation, I was like, ‘Hey, what do you do?’” he recalled, surprised by her answer about being a ski racer.
As their relationship blossomed over the past 2½ years, Watkins had been planning his proposal for nearly a year, knowing it was Johnson’s dream to get engaged during the Olympics. “It felt fitting to kind of combine two of my loves,” Johnson shared, reflecting on the significance of the Olympic setting for such a personal moment.
After her crash in the super-G, Watkins felt a moment of hesitation. Nevertheless, Johnson recovered quickly from the incident and was in good spirits, thanks to the presence of her loved ones. With the help of Megan Harrod, Mikaela Shiffrin’s publicist, Watkins ensured that Johnson remained focused during the competition leading up to his proposal.
In an unforgettable moment, Watkins got down on one knee, presenting a custom-made ring adorned with a blue sapphire surrounded by white sapphires, all set in white gold. He chose to wait until Thursday to pop the question so Johnson could prioritize her skiing performance. “I wanted to make sure the racing came first and foremost,” he said.
With the races completed, Johnson celebrates her gold medal and the beginning of an exciting new chapter as a fiancée, showcasing that dreams can indeed come true at the Olympics.