Bill Johnson (skier) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bill Johnson

Alpine skier
Johnson in 1984
Disciplines	Downhill, Super G, Combined
Born	(1960-03-30)March 30, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	January 21, 2016(2016-01-21) (aged 55) Gresham, Oregon, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
World Cup debut	February 5, 1983 (age 22)
Retired	March 1990 (age 30)
Olympics
Teams	1 – (1984)
Medals	1 (1 gold)
World Championships
Teams	1 – (1985)
Medals	0
World Cup
Seasons	8 – (1983–1990)
Wins	3 – (3 DH)
Podiums	3 – (3 DH)
Overall titles	0 – (14th in 1984)
Discipline titles	0 – (3rd in DH, 1984)
Medal record Men's alpine skiing Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Sarajevo Downhill

Bill Johnson (born March 30, 1960 – died January 21, 2016) was an amazing American ski racer. He made history at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Bill was the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing. He was also the first skier from outside the Alps mountains to win an Olympic downhill race!

Bill Johnson's Early Life and Olympic Win

Bill Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1960. When he was seven, his family moved to Boise, Idaho. He learned to ski at Bogus Basin. Later, they moved to Brightwood, near Mount Hood.

Bill found competitive skiing on Mount Hood. It helped him focus his energy. At age 17, he chose to attend a ski academy. This decision helped him join the United States Ski Team.

Becoming a World Cup Star

Bill Johnson started his World Cup career in February 1983. He quickly showed his skill in the downhill event. He finished sixth in a race in Austria.

In 1984, when Bill was 23, he began to challenge the top European skiers. These skiers had dominated downhill racing for a long time. Bill was known for being confident and outspoken.

He was even nicknamed "Billy the Kid." He once said that downhill skiers are daredevils. He loved going fast and taking risks.

Bill's first big win was on January 15, 1984. He won a World Cup downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland. This was the first time an American man had won a World Cup downhill event.

Sarajevo Olympic Gold

A month later, Bill went to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. He performed very well in his training runs. The course suited his fast, gliding style.

Bill boldly predicted he would win the Olympic gold medal. This surprised many of his European rivals. He won the downhill race at Bjelašnica. His time was 1:45.59.

He beat Peter Müller of Switzerland by 0.27 seconds. After his victory, he was asked what the win meant to him. He famously said, "Millions, man, we're talkin' millions!" He later explained this was about the prize money, not the personal meaning.

Life After the Olympics

After his Olympic win, Bill continued his success. He won two more World Cup downhill races in March 1984. These wins were in Aspen and Whistler.

In just two months, he had four downhill victories. He was an Olympic champion. He finished third in the downhill standings for the 1984 season.

Challenges and Injuries

After 1984, Bill's results were not as strong. His best finishes were two 7th places. One was in Wengen in 1985, and another in Whistler in 1986.

He faced some challenges with the U.S. Ski Team. He was late to a training camp once. His funding was temporarily stopped in 1985.

Bill also suffered injuries. He hurt his left knee in December 1986. He also had back surgery. Because of these injuries and lower performance, he was not chosen for the 1988 Winter Olympics.

He couldn't defend his gold medal. He was later suspended from the team. By 1990, he retired from competitive skiing.

Life Beyond Skiing

After his Olympic win, Bill shared his strong opinions. He talked about how ski racing should be run. He even tried to start a new professional ski circuit in 1985. However, it did not succeed.

In 1985, a TV movie was made about his Olympic journey. It was called Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story. The actor Anthony Edwards played Bill.

Bill Johnson had two sons, Tyler and Nick. His personal motto was "Ski To Die." He even had it tattooed on his arm.

Comeback Attempt and Later Life

Bill faced a very sad time in 1992. His 13-month-old son, Ryan, drowned in a hot tub. This was a very difficult loss for him.

At age 40, Bill decided to try a comeback. He wanted to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He was living in a motorhome at the time.

A Serious Accident

His comeback attempt ended suddenly on March 22, 2001. Bill crashed during a training run. This happened before a downhill race in Montana.

He suffered a serious brain injury. He was in a coma for three weeks. This accident changed his life forever.

In 2010, Bill lived in Zigzag, near Mount Hood. He still had brain damage and needed constant care. His speech and memory were permanently affected.

He later suffered a massive stroke. This happened in 2010. He moved to a care facility in Gresham. The stroke caused him to lose the ability to sit up on his own. He also lost the use of his right hand.

He lost sight in his left eye. He could only speak in a whisper. Eating was also very painful for him.

In June 2013, Bill got a serious infection. He was put on life support. In July, he chose to stop life support. He wanted to be allowed to die if something similar happened again.

He returned to long-term care in 2014. He was free of infection. He could move one side of his body. He could eat and smoke with help. He also communicated using a letter board. However, his health continued to get worse over the next two years.

Bill Johnson's Passing

Bill Johnson died on January 21, 2016. He was 55 years old. He passed away at the care facility in Gresham.

World Cup Results

Season Standings

Points were only awarded for top 15 finishes.

Top Ten Finishes

• 3 wins – (3 DH)
• 3 podiums – (3 DH), 11 top ten finishes (11 DH)

Season	Date	Location	Discipline	Place
1983	February 11, 1983	St. Anton, Austria	Downhill	6th
1984	January 15, 1984	Wengen, Switzerland	Downhill	1st
	February 2, 1984	Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy	Downhill	4th
	1984 Winter Olympics
	March 4, 1984	Aspen, CO, USA	Downhill	1st
	March 11, 1984	Whistler, BC, Canada	Downhill	1st
1985	January 19, 1985	Wengen, Switzerland	Downhill	10th
	January 20, 1985		Downhill	7th
1986	January 18, 1986	Kitzbühel, Austria	Downhill	8th
	February 7, 1986	Morzine, France	Downhill	10th
	February 21, 1986	Åre, Sweden	Downhill	9th
	March 15, 1986	Whistler, BC, Canada	Downhill	7th

Source:

Olympic Results

World Championship Results

Images for kids

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  Bill Johnson in 1984