Breezy Johnson‘s 2026 Winter Olympics journey is ending with more than just a medal — she also earned an engagement ring.
Following her run in the women’s super-G event on Thursday, February 12, Johnson’s boyfriend, Connor Watkins, got down on one knee and proposed at the finish line.
“You have worked so hard and achieved so much, and yet you still find the time to love me, to make me feel special, and most importantly, you help me love myself,” he said during the sentimental moment, per the Today show. “There’s only one way I want to spend the rest of my life, and that is by your side. I love you. Will you marry me?”
Johnson, 30, was moved to tears during the proposal and gave Watkins a quick yes.
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Moments earlier, Johnson crashed on the super-G course in Cortina. More than a dozen skiers did not finish the race. (Johnson previously nabbed a gold medal in in the women’s downhill event and landed in fourth place in the women’s team combined with Mikaela Shiffrin.)
Johnson and Watkins appeared on the Today show on Thursday morning after their engagement, with the Olympian showing off her new ring.
“When you make mistakes like that in ski racing, you feel kind of stupid … Seeing him [at the bottom of the mountain] was really exciting,” Johnson said while reflecting on the whirlwind end of the super-G race.
Watkins admitted he feels “nervous” whenever Johnson is skiing, but this moment was on another level. “She got up after the crash and was good, and that was a sigh of relief,” he said. “And then my heart started racing again because I knew I was about to get down on my own knee and propose.”
Watkins also noted that he “had a backup plan just in case” the timing wasn’t right for a public proposal after the race.
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Johnson’s father was unable to attend the Winter Olympics in Italy after a recent ski accident of his own. She told the Today show cohosts that she “can’t wait to celebrate” her major successes — both on and off the mountain — with her family once she returns home.
Along with giving his future wife a new ring, Watkins offered a wooden token decorated with lyrics from Taylor Swift‘s song “The Alchemy” which read, “Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?”
Johnson previously came out as bisexual in 2022. “Before this season starts I wanted to be open about who I am,” she shared via Instagram at the time. “To those 🏳️🌈 people out there who feel a little different and want to see people like them at the top I am here to represent that we are out there, we are normal, and we can do whatever we want.”
She continued, “To the trolls who want to hate, hate doesn’t beat love. To those who have no idea what I’m saying, head over to Google if ya want to know. To those who just want to hear about racing, headed to Copper for the final training block! LFG With love to all who support me, I appreciate it.”
