In a performance that will go down in skiing history, Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin stormed to gold in the Team Combined event at the 2025 FIS World Ski Championships.** The American duo, blending Johnson’s raw downhill power with Shiffrin’s technical brilliance, executed a near-flawless performance to clinch victory over traditional Alpine powerhouses like Austria and Switzerland. But their triumph has stirred up controversy, with critics questioning whether the format gave them an unfair advantage.
An American Masterclass or a Structural Loophole?
There’s no denying the brilliance of Shiffrin and Johnson. Shiffrin, the most decorated female skier in history, showcased her signature precision in the slalom leg. Meanwhile, Johnson, known for her fearless speed, dominated the downhillportion. Together, they outpaced teams with more balanced rosters—but therein lies the issue.
Unlike past Team Combined events, where teams had multiple skiers balancing speed and technical skills, the 2025 format allowed for specialized pairings. Many argue that the U.S. capitalized on this, fielding two event-specific specialists rather than well-rounded skiers. Critics claim this deviates from the spirit of Alpine Combined, traditionally rewarding versatility over hyper-specialization.
European Outrage: “This Isn’t What Skiing Is About”
The reaction from European ski federations was immediate. Austria’s head coach called the new rules “a loophole that turns Combined into a relay rather than an all-around test of skill.” Swiss skier Marco Odermatt, who has dominated multi-discipline events, expressed frustration:
“The idea of Combined was to find the best all-around skier. Now, if you just put a speed specialist with a slalom specialist, is that really fair?”
The sentiment was echoed in the Norwegian camp, where veteran skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (also Shiffrin’s partner) joked:
“If I knew we could split the work like that, maybe I’d have called Henrik (Kristoffersen) and won one myself.”
Shiffrin Fires Back: “Rules Are Rules”
Never one to shy away from criticism, Shiffrin dismissed the backlash as nothing more than sore-loser syndrome. In her post-race interview, she doubled down on her and Johnson’s legitimacy:
“We didn’t make the rules. We competed within them, just like everyone else. If you’re saying we didn’t deserve this, maybe you should have skied faster.”
Shiffrin’s sharp response resonated with Team USA supporters, who argue that adaptability and strategy are just as important as raw skill. Breezy Johnson, who has fought back from injuries to reclaim her spot at the top, added:
“People just don’t like seeing the U.S. dominate in an event they didn’t expect us to.”
What This Means for Alpine Skiing
The uproar is more than just sour grapes—it raises serious questions about the future of the Team Combined event. Should future championships return to a traditional all-around format? Or should the sport embrace team-based specialization, where nations can pair the best of both worlds?
One thing is certain—Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin just changed the game. Whether you love it or hate it, their gold-medal performance is forcing the ski world to rethink what it truly means to be the best.
What do you think? Did Team USA exploit a loophole, or were they simply the best team on the slopes? Let the debate begin.