The Olympic qualification period for women's alpine skiing ended after the World Cup races in Tarvisio, Italy, where U.S. athletes delivered standout performances. Lindsey Vonn claimed second in the super-G amid challenging visibility, while Breezy Johnson and Keely Cashman also shone, helping secure all 11 U.S. quota spots for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup's penultimate stop in Tarvisio marked the close of the Olympic qualification window for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Over the weekend, the U.S. women's alpine team competed fiercely, with Lindsey Vonn, at age 41, extending her dominant season by finishing third in the downhill—her fifth podium—and second in the super-G, her seventh podium in eight speed races. "It was tough conditions with the visibility but I'm really happy to be on the podium again," Vonn said. "Of course, I'm close to another win, but it is what it is. I think I'll save the hundredths for Cortina."
Breezy Johnson, from Teton County, placed sixth in the downhill and 25th in the super-G, positioning her for a likely spot on the Olympic roster. Her season highlight was a fourth-place finish in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Teammate Keely Cashman achieved a career-best fifth in the super-G. These results contributed to the U.S. securing its maximum 11 quota spots, confirmed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Prior to Tarvisio, Vonn had locked in her spot with two downhill victories, joined by technical specialists Mikaela Shiffrin, Nina O'Brien, and Paula Moltzan. Jackie Wiles earned hers with a third-place in Austria three weeks earlier. U.S. Ski and Snowboard nominated the team to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee on Tuesday, with full rosters expected soon.
One final World Cup speed event remains in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30-31, before the team heads to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, for the Olympics starting next month. Vonn's consistency—no worse than fourth this season—positions her as a medal favorite in downhill and super-G, alongside Johnson seeking redemption after a 2022 training crash at the same venue.
