Johnson got into skiing when a judge gave him the choice of either going to 6 months in jail or going to ski boarding school after a car theft. At the age of 23 he won the Lauberhorn race and announced that he was going to win Olympic gold. This victory on the Lauberhorn (with a shortened route), which he fixed with start number 21, was the first men's US victory in a World Cup downhill. Since Johnson had already been the best in training in the time runs, his win could perhaps be described as a "medium sensation". So far, the Californian had achieved 6th place on the descent from St. Anton am Arlberg on February 5, 1983 as the only top result.
He won downhill skiing at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo and became Olympic champion . It was the first ever gold medal in alpine skiing for the USA men at the Olympics - later Phil Mahre's slalom gold followed at the same games . In the Ski World Cup , Johnson was victorious in a total of three runs and achieved eight further top 10 placements.
In 1988 he did not qualify for the Olympic Games . He had to stay afloat with odd jobs. In 1992, his 13-month-old son drowned in a hot tub . In 1998 he separated from his wife and Johnson struggled with money and addiction problems.
In 2001 Bill Johnson made a comeback at the age of 40 with a view to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He began to train and after an eleven-year break from competitions at the US Ski Championships, he wanted to race again for the first time. But even while training on the slopes in Whitefish in the US state of Montana , Johnson lost control halfway through and fell badly. Doctors diagnosed severe head trauma and Johnson underwent emergency surgery for four hours. After some time in the intensive care unit, he was able to leave rehab after four months. Since then he has needed nursing assistance and was looked after by his mother.
Like several athletes in need, Bill Johnson was supported by the Franz Klammer Foundation. In 2010 he suffered a stroke and moved to a nursing home in Gresham , Oregon . At the end of June 2013, he was hospitalized with an infection. In mid-July 2013, he decided to forego life-support measures, but then overcame the life-threatening situation. His condition improved slightly afterwards. He died in January 2016 at the age of 55. Johnson left behind his mother and two sons.
United States
