Lindsey Vonn’s tenacious attempt to clinch the Winter Olympic downhill title at age 41—despite a reconstructed right knee and a severely injured left knee—came to a terrifying halt on Sunday when she crashed, resulting in a broken leg and requiring evacuation by rescue helicopter for the second time in just over a week.
Vonn lost her balance mere seconds after departing the start house, hitting a gate with her right shoulder and tumbling down the slope, ultimately landing awkwardly on her back, her skis crossed beneath her, and her cries ringing out as medical personnel rushed to her aid.
As she received treatment, a hush enveloped the crowd awaiting her at the finish line below. Strapped to a gurney, she was airlifted away, potentially signaling the end of her illustrious career. Amidst the chaos, her distress was audible as medical staff worked on her.
Following immediate care, Vonn was transported to a clinic in Cortina and later moved to a larger facility in Treviso, approximately two hours south. The Ca’ Foncello hospital reported she was being “treated by a multidisciplinary team” and had “undergone an orthopedic operation to stabilize a fracture in her left leg.”
The U.S. ski team previously stated that Vonn was “in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”
“She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a bit of a process,” remarked Anouk Patty, chief of sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “This sport is brutal, and it’s important for people to remember that these athletes risk everything as they race down the mountain at incredible speeds.”
Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, became just the second American woman to ever win Olympic downhill after Vonn achieved it 16 years prior. The 30-year-old secured her victory against Emma Aicher from Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for their team.
“I don’t pretend to understand what she must be feeling, but I know how it feels to fight for the Olympics and watch your dreams get crushed by the course,” stated Johnson, whose own injury in Cortina in 2022 thwarted her aspirations for the Beijing Olympics. “I can’t fathom her emotional turmoil; it’s not just about the physical pain—it’s the emotional toll that is harder to bear.”
Johnson noted that Vonn’s coach mentioned, “Lindsey was cheering for me from the helicopter.”
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, acknowledged the crash as “tragic, but it’s part of ski racing.” He added, “I can only express gratitude for what she has contributed to our sport, as this race has captured the attention of the Games and showcased our sport in a positive light.”
Vonn had family in attendance, including her father, Alan Kildow, who looked down in distress while his daughter was treated just 13 seconds into a race on a course where she holds the record for 12 World Cup titles.
Others in the stands, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched in silence as the star skier was finally removed from the course. Fellow American athlete Mikaela Shiffrin shared her heartbreak on social media.
“It’s like the man in the arena; she dared greatly,” Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, told NBC. “She gave it her all. She always pushes to the limit, and I know she put her entire heart into this. Sometimes things go awry; this sport is perilous.”
All attention had been on Vonn, the inspiring story leading into the Olympics. She had made a comeback to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years away, a remarkable feat considering her age, but she also underwent a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee. Many speculated how she would perform as she aspired to earn a gold medal to accompany the one she secured in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
The four-time overall World Cup champion surprised everyone by reemerging as a frontrunner almost immediately. She arrived at the Olympics leading the World Cup downhill standings and was considered a gold medal favorite until her crash in Switzerland nine days prior, where she sustained another knee injury, including a ruptured ACL, bone bruise, and meniscus damage.
still, no one discounted her potential then. Vonn has navigated injuries throughout her three-decade career at the pinnacle of the sport. In 2006, leading up to the Turin Olympics, she experienced a severe fall during downhill training and was hospitalized but competed less than 48 hours later, participating in all four events she planned, achieving her best result of seventh in the super-G.
Cortina has provided Vonn with countless unforgettable memories beyond her record victories. She is affectionately known as the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofane course has always favored her. She tested her knee over the past three days with downhill training runs before the unfortunate crash on Sunday under clear, sunny skies.
“This would be my greatest comeback, definitely the most dramatic,” Vonn had stated before the race.
This drama took an unexpected turn this time. Perhaps not since Hermann Maier’s infamous tumble at the 1998 Nagano Games has Alpine skiing witnessed such a recognizable and spectacular crash at the Olympics.
“Dear Lindsey, we are all thinking of you. You are an incredible inspiration and will always be an Olympic champion,” said Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee.
The news of Vonn’s crash spread rapidly, reaching the fan zone down the mountain in Cortina.
“It’s such a significant loss, and it’s disappointing,” stated Megan Gunyou of the U.S. “Her story of redemption after her initial fall and then fighting to return to the Olympics this year is heartbreaking.”
Dan Wilton, attending from Vancouver, Canada, described the race experience: “It was terrifying. My heart goes out to a champion who is nearing the end of her career. Everyone hoped for a successful finish.”
ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
