Lindsey Vonn‘s Olympic dream is in tatters after she crashed out of the Women’s Downhill final.
The 41-year-old Team USA skiing legend had taken a huge risk competing just days after announcing she had suffered an ACL rupture on her knee.
However, the legendary Olympian crashed near the top of the Olympia delle Tofane course as she misjudged a turn, with her shoulder clipping a gate as she picked up speed. She lost her balance and crashed, with her left leg, which had sustained a significant ACL injury just over a week ago, gave way.
Vonn was heard crying out in agony as medical staff surrounded her. After a significant pause in the time trial proceedings, she was placed on a stretcher and airlifted to a hospital. It was a devastating sight, as the 2010 downhill Winter Olympic champion, who has won four World Cups in a storied career, left the snow for what is almost certainly the final time.
Lindsey Vonn is transported away from the course by helicopter after her crash
Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
Competing against a field of world-class downhill skiers, Vonn was competing as the 13th of 36 racers in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The crowd watching on her silenced as they watched on following the crash, with music played as a course hold was placed on the event.
Fans react after watching Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crash on her run during the women’s downhill skiing
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
BBC Sport reporter Chemmy Alcott, a former skier who was often Vonn’s competition in the past, was visibly distressed by the event and noted that Vonn was given a standing ovation as the helicopter carrying her took off.
The Women’s Downhill has now resumed, as the Olympic world awaits news on Vonn’s conditions.
Vonn had trained well and set the third-quickest time in practise runs yesterday. Her teammaker, the reigning women’s downhill world champ Breezy Johnson, had earlier set the fastest time and looks set to have won the gold.
A giant screen shows Lindsey Vonn crashing
Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images
Vonn was considered to be the highest-profile athlete at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She had come out of retirement to put in a series of outstanding performances that placed her among the major favorites for a medal.
We included the star, who represented by WMG/IMG in our recent article on potential breakout stars from the Olympics, which began on Friday and runs until February 22.
