Bill Johnson Olympic downhill gold (Sarajevo 1984)

American Bill Johnson won an Olympic Gold medal in Downhill discipline in Sarajevo 1984, beating Swiss star Peter Müller and Austrian Anton Steiner

[@polopopolo2197]

RIP Billy. You were a champion no matter what happened to you in life.

[@craigborrenpohl1233]

While every individual's beginning has an end, Bill started something in 1984 which has grown into a passion for ski racing in America and the belief that we can compete on the world stage with the world's best. Bill had a passion for skiing and ski racing which cannot be questioned and should not be criticized. Some of the things Bill fought for in his day are common place in ski racing today. The spark of Bill's 1984 performances grew to a fire which has seen America host a new World Cup Downhill course the Birds of Prey at Vail/Beaver Creek, and host another Winter Olympics. Thank you Bill for your passion, rest in peace.

[@atiboyful]

Bill Johnson just proved and fortified Ted Liggity's and the Mahre brother's response that an American could win an Alpine Race

[@rogertheartfuldodger]

This single run inspired me to take up skiing at almost 30 years of age. Skiing has become my single outdoor passion since. Thank you Bill.

[@paulhootisn848]

Same here but I was 10 :)

[@realtor411]

I still cheer and get goose bumps watching this! RIP, Champ!!

[@jsmith1746]

The fact that prior to this Olympics, no American man had ever won a gold medal in Alpine skiing, and in this Olympics, American men took two of the three Alpine gold medals (Super-G and Combined were not yet on the Olympic menu in 1984) was astounding. Don't forget the Phil Mahre won the gold in the Men's slalom, just ahead of his silver medal winning twin brother Steve Mahre. Bill Johnson and Phil Mahre jointly carried the Olympic flame during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

[@1teamski]

I will always remember this run as a teenager and absolutely amazed at what Bill pulled off. It really showed that there is somewhere out there a misfit that can win somehow some way. What a true hero.

[@marilynstuckey5930]

Thanks for your great contributions to American skiing Bill. You certainly made us proud in 84'. Rest in peace.

[@atiboyful]

I was an American working in Switzerland this year as a cook's apprentice in Davos Switzerland. I was in a Swiss Stube drinking a fine Swiss beer with my fellow hotel workers and I remember I jumped up when Johnson beat Swiss star Zurbriggen. Not one of my fellow Swiss and other nationality colleagues did anything but remain quiet. This win by Johnson shocked Switzerland. Once I realized my situation, I sat back down and resumed drinking my Calanda Brau beer

[@MkochaT]

Hi Atiboyful. Your experience reminds me 1973 movie "Bread and Chocolate", search QHEDnhW6G3w or , you have to see 8 minutes 1:32 to 1:40, the whole movie is so good that you don't have to understand the language, compare Italian's life in Switzerland with yours. I love this movie every time I see it, also Seven Beauties (1975), Swept Away (but only 1974 version!), Night on Earth (1991), give me feedback.

[@DC2Ams]

I was a 8th grader at the American International School in Vienna, Austria and went nuts when he won gold. My Austrian friends were not so happy. RIP Bill, we miss you.

[@opensourcecurrency]

@@MkochaT Yeah that's a powerful scene in a great movie. Only the Italians can pull off realism with sentimentality ("schmaltz" in Yiddish...).

[@aspenrebel]

You didn't get immediately deported?

[@atiboyful]

@@aspenrebel NAH! My Swiss friends knew that Johnson had beaten Zurbriggen fair and square in the downhill..

[@tonystek3611]

I remember watching this with my mother and we rooted for him and when they declared him the winner we both jumped for joy and my mom had tears in her eyes , great times with my mother , RIp mom and RIp Mr Johnson , thanks for the memories 🥰👍

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Reminds me of great times with my parents. thank you and bless your family.

[@MalcolmDesigns]

THANK YOU Bill Johnson, the FIRST American to win Olympic gold!! I'll never forget him, this race and the races leading up to the Olympics. RIP, you will always be king and never forgotten.

[@Mrs.Ps_Peeps_23]

I just decided today to look Bill up today and to my very sad surprise, found out of his passing!! I'm so sad and heart broken!! I had the pleasure of working with him after his accident at the rehab center for brain injury. One thing that was very apparent was that he absolutely loved skiing and loved the state of Oregon. Because of him I've always wanted to to visit or maybe even move there!! RIP Bill Johnson!!

[@donnelly5757]

RIP Bill Johnson. You are and will be an inspiration to many.

[@patrickcrowe5106]

This dude was all balls! ;) Legend at the time was that he was looking at the leader board and someone asked him why, and he said he wanted to see who was going to be in 2nd place! He deserved a better life after this! RIP Bill Johnson!

[@rexbob7]

They, will all be skiing for second place. Love that quote.

[@thunderstruck8087]

RIP Bill. You had all that pressure on you and you did it!!! A truly great American skier! I watched this live, and what a great memory!

[@PaDutchRunner]

I too watched it live. It just now occurred to me to search for it on KZbin

[@ynot0714]

Same here! In our college ski club at the time. I've been watching pass downhill ski runs now that the Olympics are over. Bill was a hardcore racer! I remember the crash also but didn't know how bad his life was after until I started reading about him. Sad.

[@maximusmiles8435]

As a child he was one of my sports heroes. Later on I got the chance to meet and ski with him. I never knew him fully, but he made a good impression. Super easy to approach, and talk to. I had a lot of fun skiing, and hanging out with him. RIP Bill.

[@EarlofCrawford]

Better days, Billy. RIP.

[@DexterHaven]

What a nice tuck, and the way he maintained form in the air. No American had finished higher than 5th prior to his Olympic 1st. Unchartered ground. A pioneer.

[@kevinoaks509]

He made it look so easy. Gonna miss you Bill. Thanks for the thrills and inspiration.

[@t_scott]

A true American sports legend. Thanks for the inspiration and the memories.

[@maryleclair100]

He shook up the world 1984 against impossible odds..a Legend for USA SKIING FOREVER

[@atiboyful]

I was working as Amercian in Switzerland back in 1984 on a cook's contract and I remember watching this race alongside my newfound Swiss friends in a Stuberli in St. Moritz. I was the only American in that Stuberli and was clapping for Bill Johnson. My other hotel Swiss friends were clapping for Pirmin Zurbriggen. I was grateful my new found Swiss friends did not hold my allegiance to Bill Johnson against me going foreward...

[@lazarusled8927]

This is Sarajevo

[@lillieherold7943]

At Each Winter Olympics, I'm Drawn To Watch Billy Johnson (my maiden name as well) Story, And His Epic Win. I Awaken Early That Morning Of His Win, And Watched In Amazement As He Raced Down The Mountain. I Shall NEVER FORGET YOU Champ! RIP A FAN

[@spokehead8218]

Nice run, amazing how he made up .7 secs in the lower half, nice. RIP Bill Johnson.

[@eddiemag1799]

RIP Bill Johnson, one of the highlights of the Sarajevo '84 Winter Olympics. It was fun watching him pull off that surprise.

[@cycleoflife7331]

He was the American version of the rock N’Roll star of skiing. Live fast, die young, become a Legend!

[@govtom4]

I had this newspaper clipping up in my bedroom for a year or two after the race. Loved this guy for what he did and how “rowdy” he was. Also liked Toni Schumacher, the goalkeeper from Germany. Toni’s still my favorite player.

[@briancallahan2792]

Spent a day with him and his gold medal. He and I where in a Tradeshow together. Amazing athlete.

[@Johnonayacht]

Billy was and will always be my hero!! When he walked up the mountain to train when they told him no he cemented himself as the man!

[@turtleflegel6816]

Loved this guy, true American icon -- brash, underdog, irreverent, self-reliant. And great.

[@casualx5433]

I remember the Olympic Games. I was a child, and those days it was very cold weather and lots of snow here in Sarajevo

[@whatchutalkinbout]

RIP Champ.

[@randomwicked9806]

whatchutalkinbout I did a speech about him in high school. To this day...Bill Johnson is an American Olympic hero

[@realtor411]

A Legend. RIP, Champ.

[@rpcclo]

This run by Cowboy Johnson was just as awesome if not better than Klammer's in 1976. No one expected him to medal - no one. As many have commented below, this started the upward trend in American skiing on the international scene. Rest well Cowboy Johnson - you made us proud...

[@timmurphy5736]

Great performance. From 1992 onwards this man's life was very difficult until his death in 2016. RIP Champ.

[@JosephDungee]

I remember watching this. WHAT An Achievement!

[@RobertWalterweldon]

I grew up in Southern California and used to ski quite a bit Back in the 1980's and 90's. I'd keep up with the world ski events in the sports section of the Los Angeles Times. When the results were posted on the back page I loved to see this American Sports hero listed at or near the top. And he would be listed like this..... Bill Johnson, Van Nuys California. The world's best skier from the last place you'd think of a world class skier would emerge from. But he did....one of our own!

[@airbooks]

That was one hell of a run to glory. Bill Johnson was the first person (male or female) from outside the Alps area to win an Olympic downhill. First American male to be Olympic champion in any alpine skiing event. For you young whippersnappers too young to remember, this was THE event of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Sucks that so many athletes of my youth are dying now. Getting old I guess. RIP Billy Johnson

[@zobielamouche1]

sad, that both the location of this race/games (sarajevo) and it's winner (johnson) were so destroyed in the meantime

[@atiboyful]

Very true! Sarajevo became a war zone during the ethnic cleansing war between bosnia and serbia! Sad to see the existing Sarajevo Olympic sites so desecrated and neglected to this day.

[@dannyjoaquin5862]

i guess it's kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good place to stream new movies online ?

[@matteokody4713]

@Danny Joaquin lately I have been using FlixZone. Just google for it :)

[@ryderthatcher2205]

@Danny Joaquin Try flixzone. You can find it by googling :)

[@louisduncan9434]

@Danny Joaquin try flixzone. Just search on google for it =)

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

I was there that day. What a memory.

[@brainscott8198]

This kid came outta nowhere to capture Gold!!!!! WTG, Billy!!! R I P.

[@bunkerbunt3390]

Against Pirmin Zurbriggen who won the overall World Cup title four times, an Olympic gold medal in 1988 in Downhill, and nine World Championships medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze).

[@alfredleadbeaterjr.6053]

It's funny seeing this come up now in my feed. It brings back some great memories and friends. When I think of Billy I always think of Blake Lewis, the ski technician and close friend of Billy's. A flat downhill course demands fast skis, wax, base, etc. and Blake made it happen. Billy had some tough times. I'm glad this one worked out for him and for Blake.

[@davidswanson8493]

Met this legend and got an autographed poster from him when I was a kid!

[@sandratessem9980]

RIP Bill Johnson. He suffered a horrible injury in Big Mountain, Montana Great skier

[@ItsBlackjack115]

R.I.P. Bill Johnson, you've done your country proud.

[@farukvricic2071]

RIP Sarajevo will always love you

[@skipwatts7394]

RIP Billy ! They all called him names and for What ! Nowadays anything goes ! He was way ahead of his time and ALL of Portland Loved him for his Part in History !

[@JoDeeJ0D]

I was introduced to Billy through a friend of mine, Mike Kennedy in the San Fernando valley. We went on a camping trip up north past a place called 'Fiddle Creek'. We had great fun. But poor guy was in a lot of pain due to a bad ski accident he had. Good times. But I get sad when I think about it. I am 46 years old now. Don't know how old he would have been now, but there was maybe a decade or more in age between us.

[@MkochaT]

Bill Johnson is my downhill hero forever...I hope to meet him some day. I think he lives in Washington state or Oregon. I like his smile, his sense of humor, his teasing other skiers before races. I remember his Olympic gold medal run in Sarajevo. I was trying to ski like him, got Nastar silver in Breckenridge and Bear Valley. Robert Redford was like him in movie Downhill Racer. Thank you for posting.

[@lindaschmider292]

I met Bill a month ago. It was a wonderful experience to be next to the man who changed skiing history. There can only be one person who does something for the first time, and he is Bill Johnson!

[@MkochaT]

Linda Sch Thank you Linda for sharing good news about Bill. How is he doing? Where is he? Can we send him something he likes?

[@barkmark4479]

Sandy Or (Mount Hood).

[@livenhfree]

I remember this vividly. Before the race one of the Europeans (I think it was Peter Müller) referred to Johnson as a "little American nose-picker." Johnson said "They're all racing for second place." That was Namath-esque. What a badass.

[@StefanPaul5]

I thought the nose-picker remark was made by a bitter, defeated Klammer after the race, but it could've easily been Muller.

[@livenhfree]

@@StefanPaul5 Yeah, I actually think you're right! I loved the quote. I use it to this day for certain people. ;-)

[@rockymountainhigh9379]

Hell yes. Bill Johnson predicted this win and was on the Red Sleds. Gone way to soon.

[@STEAMBOATSTOMPERS]

Never any Downhill Racer was such a surprise at Lauberhorn (Wengen) and his "promised" Olympic victory as Bill Johnson. All the greats of the time analised his stile. RIP in a better World!

[@unclemuir]

This brought back memories. A very special day for American skiing.

[@uprightape100]

Thanks for posting.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Legend.

[@notdreadyet33]

Amazing. Guy was incredible.

[@kevinellington3333]

RIP Bill Johnson, Mount Hood will miss you

[@mofalaufkultur46]

0:55 Ah Billy Boy! He beat my name's giver Pirmin Zurbriggen - however he seems to be a legend, nice guy! Inspiring later legends like Bode Miller, Teddy Boy,... best from a 1987 bornboy!

[@mrguystarr]

I remember this... great moment.

[@davanmani556]

Non-skiing fans became fans of his with this run.

[@channelperl2144]

Brilliant skier and I remember idolizing him as a kid after he had that crazy run in the World Cup race when he skied off the course but still won. And this victory was further validated when Premier Zoobiggin won gold in ‘88 and was a great champion as well.

[@josephinecampbell3196]

I remember watching in 84 winning. It is such a shame how his career ended. He had the talent but like most they throw it away with both hands. RIP

[@herbsison3089]

Bill Johnson on the Red Sled was truly amazing. RIP

[@magicmarc3340]

Billy Johnson, an American original. R.I.P. Bill You are loved.

[@mjjm5511]

RIP champ

[@klinacizbih]

RIP bill. you will be missed

[@riptheripper9060]

Some athletes just thrive when the pressure is the greatest.

[@tysongarrett8688]

You and joe namath ....both of you had the balls to say You were going to do it.........then you went out and did it!....you will be remembered!

[@alexanderkraieski7661]

What a legend! RIP

[@navarrov]

An amazing run, RIP Billy.

[@PhoenixWoody]

I saw that live. Awesome.

[@TheAutisticCat]

One of Oregon's many great Olympians

[@jakehagan9227]

Bill Johnson, Need I say more?

[@ryanstrnad8442]

Awesome!

[@Mamo878]

Go, Billy Boy, go. Always.

[@TubeBrowser2]

RIP Bill. Legend.

[@BlackHawkPSU]

RIP

[@roblipton9121]

when asked what the Gold medal meant to him he said "about a million dollars" He had a hard life, hard upbringing, great gliding technique, but a hard life.

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

Whatever happened to Bob Beattie? He used to be a staple at every major skiing telecast, especially the Olympics. I enjoyed the enthusiasm and excitement he always injected. Then he seemed to just evaporate. I don't think I've seen him covering an event in 25 years, and have missed what he brought. Hope he is still alive and well.

[@hattiem.7966]

Loved Bob Beattie.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Beattie_(skiing).He is 84 now and has no kids from his 4 marriages.I miss him on TV too but ABC lost the contract to NBC for the Olympics.

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

Update: Mr. Beattie passed away in 2018 at the age of 85.

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

God I so miss the Big Eighties !

[@davidtkocz8356]

R.I.P. Bill.

[@kenneths.perlman1112]

I watched on TV. Glad he won. But if Klamer was a 10 ( or actually 13), this was 2.

[@TheSlandis]

He inspired so many American racers including me.

[@summercunningham4131]

I am so sad about his death but his last 14 years have been pretty hard.

[@airbooks]

+Summer Cunningham I've noticed with artists and athletes that whatever DNA makes them great also makes them a bit crazy. RIP Billy

[@BigEightiesNewWave]

American HERO !!!

[@West_87]

RIP Bill Johnson

[@pattyveesaert3581]

Bill Johnson still First USA to win Gold - RIP

[@sargatanas88]

he was calm and he was cool

[@JoAvg-ws7qx]

American Badass🇺🇸 Olympic Hero!! 🇺🇸

[@stephenchristian5739]

thank you forever BJ U were the trump of skiing brash & backed it up! greatest run since klammer with all that pressure the jealousy of the EUro fools non of them could stop YOU! I LOVE IT

[@davidhayes5961]

That's who I felt I was going down Devil's Elbow, Sugar Loaf Cedar MI in the 1980s

[@GCraigVachon]

Those were some manly skis

[@jefflundberg9185]

I'm certain there's skiing up there. Enjoy Bill.

[@bestcoastsxmcp]

Downhill Racer. Just like the movie.

[@polliazul]

RIP "Billy Boy".

[@dudermcdude9245]

Great SI cover. RIP.

[@robertbeightler1473]

Dude fought for that tuck all the way down.

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

Look at the flags wave Bob!!

[@gunter69]

RIP Bill

[@amina-pr8xt]

Both Johnson and Sarajevo had terrible years then :-(