Breezy Johnson of the United States reacts in the finish area of the alpine ski women's downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott, Keystone via AP)2026-02-08T20:11:05Z MILAN (AP) The crash. The gasps. The helicopter.Lindsey Vonns frightening fall in the womens downhill at the Milan Cortina Olympics couldnt help but overshadow U.S. teammate Breezy Johnsons feat winning her countrys first gold medal at these Games.Johnsons victory Sunday in Cortina wasnt the Olympic comeback story everyone expected, as the focus was on Vonn going for gold despite a torn ACL. Even as Johnson sat in the leaders box on the verge of securing her first Olympic gold medal, her emotions swung from anticipation to anguish when Vonn went down.It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life, Johnson said.Still, the 30-year-old Johnson became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill Vonn won it in 2010 and it came after her own injury concerns as well as a 14-month ban for violating whereabouts rules when it comes to testing for doping.Sometimes, she said, you just have to keep going because thats the only option. Ilia Malinin the Quad God delivers for USNo delays this time.The U.S. defended its team figure skating gold medal by edging Japan on Sunday.Ilia Malinin beat rival Shun Sato in a head-to-head showdown to break a deadlock in the final session of the competition. The U.S. ended up with 69 points while Japan finished with 68.Malinin, nicknamed the Quad God, landed five quadruple jumps and scored 200.03 points for his free skate. Sato followed him with three quads in his program, but he could only manage 194.86 points, leaving the Japanese with a second straight silver medal in the team event.Four years ago, the Americans and Japanese were denied a medal ceremony in Beijing because of a lengthy investigation into Russian doping, which kept them from receiving their medals until the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Italy celebrates big haul of medalsMust be the home cooking.Host nation Italy won six medals Sunday five bronze and one silver the most Italy has ever won in a single day at the Winter Olympics.The Italy team delivered the silver medal in the mixed relay biathlon race.Downhill skier Sofia Goggia won Italys first bronze medal of the day, followed by Lucia Dalmassos third place in snowboardings parallel giant slalom. Riccardo Lorello claimed bronze in the mens speedskating 5,000 meters. Dominik Fischnaller took bronze in mens singles luge before Italy rallied for third place in the figure skating team event.That followed Italys Day 1 total of three medals, led by speedskater Francesca Lollobrigidas gold in the 3,000 meters. NHL players arrive in MilanFive charter planes carrying NHL players including Canadas Sidney Crosby arrived in Milan on Sunday morning from New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. This is the first Olympics with NHL players since the Sochi Games in 2014.Sweden was the first of the teams comprised of almost exclusively NHL players to take the ice for practice at Milano Santagiulia Arena, followed by the U.S., Czechia, Canada and Finland.The 12-team mens tournament starts Wednesday. The U.S. and Canada are the heavy favorites, and both teams begin their campaigns Thursday. The Americans face Latvia. Canada plays Czechia.Finland is the defending champion, but Canada has won each of the past two Olympics with NHL players. Big favorite Ledecka stunned in snowboardingNo surprise that a Czech racer won snowboardings parallel giant slalom Sunday in Livigno. The shocker was that it wasnt Ester Ledecka.Ledecka, who was trying to become the first snowboarder to win gold medals at three straight Olympics, lost her quarterfinal race by 0.06 seconds to Austrias Sabine Payer.The gold medal went to Ledeckas teammate, 22-year-old Zuzana Maderova. It was her first victory in a major event. Payer took the silver medal. Italys Lucia Dalmasso won bronze.Ledecka hadnt lost a PGS World Cup race in almost two years. Early hours in Italy for Super BowlTheres plenty of interest here in the Super Bowl, even if the game kicks off Monday at 12:30 a.m. in Italy. A couple of sports pubs in Milan said on Sunday that theyre fully booked and will turn away walk-ups. The New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, California.A few days before competing in Sundays womens downhill, American skier Jacqueline Wiles noted that shes a big, big fan of the Seahawks. A native of Portland, Oregon, Wiles finished tied for fourth on Sunday, just missing out on a bronze medal.___AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics