Tess Johnson

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Women's Moguls
• Parents are TJ and Carol Johnson; has two siblings; grandfather was William Oscar Johnson, a longtime Sports Illustrated writer
• Named to the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team at age 14
• Studied psychology through Harvard Extension School
• Enjoys outdoor activities including mountain biking, fishing, camping, tennis, bungee jumping, paragliding and playing ukulele

Biographical Information

Growing up in Vail, Colorado, Tess Johnson began skiing at age 2 and initially aspired to compete in slopestyle. Too young for that discipline, she enrolled in a program called "Bumps and Jumps" and discovered her passion for mogul skiing. At 14, she became the youngest athlete ever named to the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team at the time, setting a precedent for young talent in the program.

Johnson's career reached an early milestone when she competed at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 at age 17, one of six 17-year-olds on Team USA. Since then, she has built an impressive résumé that includes world championship medals, world cup victories and consistent top-10 finishes on the international circuit. Her signature tricks include a massive backflip venom bottom air and a cork 720 top air. Johnson earned bronze in dual moguls at the 2019 world championships in Deer Valley and silver in the same event at the 2025 world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The latter achievement marked the best finish for the U.S. in world championship dual moguls history when she and teammate Jaelin Kauf went one-two.

The path to success hasn't been without obstacles. In April 2023, Johnson underwent spinal surgery at the Steadman Clinic to repair a chronically injured herniated L5-S1 disc that had hampered her performance for two seasons. Her comeback demonstrated remarkable determination. Just seven months after surgery, she returned to world cup competition and finished seventh in the overall standings for the 2023-24 season. The following season proved to be her best yet. Johnson captured her first individual moguls world cup victory in Almaty, Kazakhstan in February 2025, then opened the Olympic qualifying season with another win in Ruka, Finland in December 2025, finishing third in the overall standings.

Beyond athletics, Johnson balances her demanding competition schedule with a devotion to giving back. She serves as a spokesperson for community programs that empower young girls mentally, physically and emotionally. Johnson's commitment to community engagement reflects the support she received growing up in the Vail Valley. Growing up, she also excelled on her school’s girls' soccer team, helping secure two Colorado state championships before graduating from Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy. Her grandfather's legacy as a Sports Illustrated writer who covered the Olympics continues to inspire her Olympic journey, bringing the family's love of winter sports full circle.

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian
  • Olympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, 12th (Moguls - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – silver (Dual Moguls - Women), 12th (Moguls - Women)
• Years of participation: Dual Moguls - Women 2019, 2021, 2025; Moguls - Women 2019, 2021, 2025
• Medals: 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze)
  • Silver – 2025 (Dual Moguls - Women)
  • Bronze – 2019 (Dual Moguls - Women)