Bill Johnson becomes first American to win Olympic gold in downhill skiing
On February 16 1984 Bill Johnson becomes the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing a sport long dominated by European athletes.Johnson quickly became a national hero though his fame was short-lived and he never again competed in the Olympics.William Dean Johnson was born March 30 1960 and grew up in a working-class family in Oregon.He was frequently in trouble as a child and was once was arrested for stealing a car.
In January 1984 the little-known Johnson then 23 became the first American man to win a World Cup downhill race at Wengen Switzerland and he boldly predicted he would take home a gold medal the following month at the Olympic Games in Sarajevo Yugoslavia.To the amazement of the skiing world the prediction came true on February 16 1984 when he finished the mens downhill with a time 14559 and beat Switzerlands Peter Muller a favorite to win the race by .27 seconds.Johnson won two more World Cup races that season.However his newfound fame seemed to go to his head and his brash cocky personality alienated many in the ski community.
Additionally Johnson lived a lavish hard-partying lifestyle and stopped winning races.In 1988 he was left off the U.S.ski team for the Olympic Games in Calgary.At age 40 Johnson attempted to stage a comeback and qualify for the U.S.
ski team for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.However in March 2001 he suffered a devastating crash at the U.S.Alpine Championships at Big Mountain Resort near Whitefish Montana.
The crash put him in a coma for several weeks and left him with brain damage.
