Posted on 01/22/2016 10:58:32 AM PST by John W
Bill Johnson, the brash American who became the first U.S. skier to win an Olympic downhill title, died after a long illness, the U.S. ski team said Friday. He was 55.
Megan Harrod, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Alpine team, said Johnson died Thursday at an assisted living facility in Gresham, Oregon.
Johnson's health had been on the decline for several years after a series of strokes.
Johnson won the downhill at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, the first American to capture gold in Alpine skiing's marquee event. He was also the first American male to win an Olympic gold in any Alpine event.
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Lighten up, Francis. You get your smoke from burnt-peat in your Islay booze. Mine too, or Laphroigh, Jura, Doublewood, or Bunnahaiban. -)
It’s not smoking per se. This guy was crippled by strokes. Doesn’t take a genius to guess he was looking for a way out.
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