Lindsey Vonn suffers serious injury at Winter Olympics
American skier Lindsey Vonn sustained a severe injury during the women’s downhill event at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, leading to emergency medical intervention on the scene, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred shortly after the race began, with Vonn tumbling down the slope and remaining motionless. Her cries of pain were audible, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Medical personnel quickly arrived to attend to her serious condition.
Vonn, 41, had controversially decided to compete despite suffering a ruptured ACL just nine days prior, a choice that raised concerns about her safety. Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, broadcasting from near the finish line, described Vonn’s fall as a painful blow to both her and her family. “I feel guilty that I am this emotional. I just never believed it would end in a clump at the side of the piste, not moving,” Alcott remarked.
As the tension mounted, the atmosphere grew increasingly uncomfortable near the finish area. Alcott noted that event organisers opted to play background music to mask the distressing sounds of Vonn’s cries. “It is uncomfortable,” she said. “There is clapping and there is hope that she would be okay.”
Following treatment on the slope, Vonn was eventually secured onto a stretcher and airlifted to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Racing was halted for approximately 20 minutes as she received urgent care. Alcott highlighted the risks inherent in the sport: “The risk was really high, the risk she takes when she falls will double that, her body will not be able to take that.”
The incident profoundly affected fellow competitors, particularly Breezy Johnson, who had just posted the fastest time and was in a gold medal position. Alcott reflected on her discomfort in the face of such a dramatic turn of events: “Breezy Johnson will not be enjoying sitting in that [gold medal] chair, we all know what Lindsey has done to our sport.” Despite the interruption, the competition resumed in a climate of rising temperatures, highlighting the precarious nature of skiing at high speeds.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of athletes, who push their limits in pursuit of glory, and how quickly triumph can turn to tragedy on the slopes.
