Although Europeans usually dominate alpine skiing events, there have been five Americans to win gold medals in the Winter Olympics. I don’t think their achievements have received as much attention as deserved, so I’d like to draw attention to these champions by ranking them from fifth to first greatest.
5. Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson’s life has alternated between great highs and lows. He had problems with the law as a young man, but was able to stay out of major trouble by focusing on skiing. Johnson was very cocky going into the downhill event at the 1984 Olympics, telling reporters, “I don’t even know why everyone else is here. Everyone else is here to fight for second place.” But his prediction came true, and Johnson became the first American man to win a gold medal in alpine skiing. Unfortunately, Johnson’s post-Olympics life has been a series of tragedies, culminating with a severe crash while attempting a comeback in 2001 at the age of 40. He barely survived, but sadly suffered permanent brain damage.
4. Tommy Moe
The first American man to win two medals at a single Olympics is Tommy Moe, who won the downhill and took second in the super-G at the 1994 Games. He was a highly regarded champion, with teammate Kyle Rasmussen commenting, “There isn’t anyone on the World Cup circuit who resents Tommy winning this race. Everyone likes him.” Moe is long retired from competitive skiing, though he remains active as a “Ski Guide and Special Ambassador” at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
3. Ted Ligety
Ted Ligety is easily one of the best active American skiers. He won the combined event at the 2006 Olympics and has nine World Cup victories, all of which came in the giant slalom. At the age of 27, Ligety continues to ski at a world-class level, and could make a run at the 2014 Olympic Games. He is also the founder of Shred Optics, a company that manufactures many different types of ski equipment.
2. Phil Mahre
Considering Phil Mahre’s childhood, it’s no surprise that he would one day be a great skier. His father worked as the mountain manager at the White Pass ski area, which is where Mahre learned to ski. He won his first medal in the 1980 Olympics, finishing second place in the slalom. Four years later he improved to first, and proving that a talent for skiing runs in the Mahre family, his twin brother Steve took second place in the same event. On top of his two Olympic medals, Mahre has won an outstanding 27 World Cup races.
1. Bode Miller
Bode Miller isn’t just the greatest American alpine skier–he’s one of the best in the world. He rose to fame in the 2002 Olympics, where he won silver medals in the giant slalom and in the combined. When the 2006 Olympics rolled around, Miller figured to be a shoo-in for a gold medal. However, he did not perform well, and was widely accused of squandering his talent and having an inflated ego. But Miller rededicated himself to the sport, and finally earned a gold medal in the super combined at the 2010 Olympics. That same year he took second in the super-G and third in the downhill, giving him an American-record five medals.
Floyd Saunders is a native of snowy Minnesota. He has been a downhill and cross-country skier since childhood, and he has dabbled in snowboarding, snowshoeing, hockey, and ice fishing.