Former Olympic downhill champ Bill Johnson dies at age of 55

The man who was the first American skier to win an Olympic downhill title, Bill Johnson has passed away from a long illness.

Johnson, whose swagger and a rebellious attitude instantly made him a favorite among fans, made steady improvement over the years following the crash but eventually suffered a series of debilitating strokes. Prior to his 1984 downhill Olympic gold medal win in Sarajevo, he won in the Euro Cup and a Downhill Gold at Wengen Switzerland.

At the age of 40, he attempted a comeback with the goal of qualifying for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article. But you know when you’re in a state like that I think it’s a blessing sometimes.

Johnson grew up racing on Mount Hood and in Bogus Basin, Idaho. So he went to Mission Ridge Ski Academy in Washington, where he developed his talent.

“What he did that day was unbelievable at the time”, said Bill Marolt, former president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

Last March, on his 55th birthday, friends and ski racers around the world reached out with tributes to one of the greatest downhillers of all time.

Vonn and Tommy Moe are the only other American skiers to win Olympic gold in downhill.

Johnson was an outspoken presence who guaranteed success in the Olympics, then backed it up with a gold medal-winning performance in 1984. On Friday, they marked Johnson’s death with an outpouring of remembrances, calling the champion a trailblazer, a pioneer and an inspiration and legend.