Lindsey Vonn Airlifted After Horrific Crash in Olympic Downhill Comeback
American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn was airlifted off the mountain Sunday after suffering a severe crash just seconds into her run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The 41-year-old, who was attempting an unprecedented comeback despite a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), lost control early in the women’s downhill event, ending her medal bid in a scene that left spectators and teammates stunned.
Vonn, who had come out of retirement in 2024 to chase one final Olympic dream, appeared to clip a gate with her right ski pole shortly after launching onto the Tofane course. The contact threw her off balance, sending her spinning sideways through the air before she slammed violently into the snow. The four-time overall World Cup champion slid down the slope and came to a halt, screaming in pain as silence fell over the crowd.
Medical personnel rushed to Vonn’s side, tending to her on the snow for approximately 15 minutes. She was eventually strapped to a rescue sled and airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital for evaluation. While the full extent of her injuries remains unconfirmed, the crash has reignited intense debate regarding the safety of her participation. Vonn had revealed only days earlier that she was competing with a fully torn ACL sustained during a World Cup race in Switzerland less than two weeks ago. Critics and medical experts had raised significant objections to her decision to race, citing the extreme instability of a knee lacking an ACL at speeds exceeding 70 mph.
This devastating end to Vonn’s campaign stands in stark contrast to the historic nature of her return. After retiring in 2019 due to extensive injuries, Vonn underwent partial knee replacement surgery and shocked the sports world by announcing her return to competition two years later. Her “bionic” comeback saw her return to the top of the World Cup standings, raising hopes for a fairytale ending at the Milano-Cortina Games—a venue where she had previously celebrated considerable success. However, the risk of competing on a destabilized knee proved too great, turning what was hoped to be a triumphant final chapter into a harrowing medical emergency.
The race resumed after the lengthy delay, with Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson delivering a stunning performance to claim the gold medal for the United States. As celebrations began for Johnson, the skiing community remained fixated on reports of Vonn’s condition, marking a somber conclusion to the career of the most decorated female ski racer in American history.
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