In the final women's race before the 2026 Winter Olympics, rising Swiss star Malorie Blanc picked up her first-career World Cup victory in front of a jubilant Crans Montana crowd (1:17.34). 

Blanc, who grew up 20 minutes away from the ski resort in Ayent, Switzerland, gave her hometown fans something to celebrate after a difficult month for the area. On New Year's Eve, 40 people died and 115 were injured in a fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana.

Just days after the tragedy, Camille Rast (SUI) won a giant slalom in Krajska Gora, Slovenia and dedicated the performance to the victims and their families.

The triumph for Blanc on Saturday was an emotional one.

"It's just incredible, I'm so, so happy," she said in a post-race interview. "I have a little struggle to realize it, but I will wait until the end to just be sure that it's real [laughs]. It means so much for me.

"The feeling wasn't that good on the slope. I thought, okay, I'm doing some mistake, but just keep going. Across the finish line, I heard all those people, it was so loud. And I thought, okay, well, maybe it's not that bad."

Blanc will represent Switzerland in Milan Cortina and is expected to compete in both the downhill and super-G.

Sofia Goggia (ITA), the leader in Cup points in the super-G, came in second place at Crans Montana (+0.18). In her four races in the discipline during the 2025-26 Cup season, she's collected three podiums, making her a super-G medal favorite at February's Winter Games on home snow.

In the absence of an injured Lindsey Vonn (USA), Breezy Johnson (USA) stepped up big time and secured third (+0.36). It was Johnson's first podium of the Cup campaign and first of her career in a super-G. She now has nine total.

"I hadn't been having a particularly good super-G season," Johnson admitted. "I think it's the hardest event. I've always really wanted to be good at it. Down at the bottom, I thought I was about to straddle that one gate, and I did not expect the run would get me to the podium."

The positive result officially qualified Johnson to compete in the Olympic super-G event and it couldn't have come at a better time — a week out from the Games and in a period of uncertainty for the U.S. Ski speed team. 

Vonn crashed early in Friday's Crans Montana downhill. She lost her balance on a second sector jump, tried to make the save and wound up landing hard on the tails of her skis, causing them to slip out in front of her and throw her on her back. The 41-year-old skidded into the course netting, where she remained still for a good five minutes.

After receiving medical attention, Vonn rose to her feet and gingerly descended the mountain (on skis) on her own power. When she arrived at the bottom of the piste, her U.S. Ski teammate and the race's leader Jacqueline Wiles embraced her. After being evaluated in the medical tent, a helicopter airlifted her away from the course.

Vonn would later post on social media that she would "to continue to undergo further exams" and that her "Olympic dream is not over."

As of early Saturday morning eastern time, the Olympic gold medalist has not shared additional updates on her status. Vonn did, however, take to Instagram again before the super-G:

"Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today… wishing all my teammates a great race 💪🏻 🇺🇸

Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me.

Doing my best right now…. 🙏🏻🤞🏻"

Johnson herself has dealt with injuries in the past few months, hurting her back in October training, which caused her to miss the super-G opener in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Fortunately, the defending downhill and team combined world champion has started every event since and appears to be hitting her stride with the Olympics in sight.

Aside from Johnson, three other Americans finished in the top 20 at Crans Montana. Mary Bocock (USA) snagged 15th, a personal best result for the 22 year old from Salt Lake City, Utah. She is set make her Winter Olympic debut in Milan Cortina.

Jacqueline Wiles, another member of Team USA, placed 17th. Tricia Mangan (USA), who did not get selected to compete at the Games, came in 19th. Team USA's Keely Cashman (USA) claimed 25th.

Heading into the Olympic break, the U.S. women lead the Nation's Cup in the overall, downhill, giant slalom and slalom categories (they're second in super-G), demonstrating that their depth (at least so far) is unmatched. The Cup tallies the cumulative points earned by athletes from every country during races.

Meanwhile, Federica Brignone (ITA), the three-time Olympic medalist and 37-time World Cup winner, made her second start since returning from the fractured tibia and fibula she sustained in spring of 2025. She looked strong, finishing 18th.

The final World Cup event before the 2026 Winter Olympics — a men's downhill — is slated for Sunday at Crans Montana. 

The Opening Ceremony of the Games will be on Feb. 6 and the Alpine skiing events begin the following day with the men's downhill. Catch the excitement on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and other NBC channels.