Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic return ends in injury at Milan-Cortina Winter Games
The International Olympic Committee’s sports director Pierre Ducrey has confirmed that the decision for Lindsey Vonn to compete at the Milan and Cortina Winter Olympics rested entirely with the American skier and her support staff, reports BritPanorama.
The 41-year-old had torn her ACL during a World Cup event shortly before the Games commenced in Italy but was determined to race. Her participation attracted significant attention, with many questioning whether she could compete effectively given the circumstances.
Ducrey declined to pass judgement on whether Vonn should have taken part following her subsequent crash. “She was able to train and made the choice with the excellent team that she has to take part…this decision was really hers and her team to take,” he stated. Unfortunately, just 13 seconds into her downhill run, Vonn struck a slalom gate and tumbled violently down the course.
Emergency services transported her by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel operated on a fractured left leg. Reports indicate that additional surgical procedures may be necessary before her release. Vonn’s Olympic return, her first since claiming gold in 2010, ended abruptly, as she attempted to match the pace set by Breezy Johnson, whose time was eventually sufficient to secure the gold medal.
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski Federation, echoed Ducrey’s sentiment regarding athlete autonomy, stating that such choices must ultimately lie with the competitor themselves. He emphasized that Vonn’s crash was an unfortunate accident, describing it as “one in a thousand,” and underscored the inherent risks of ski racing.
Despite the widespread praise Vonn received for her courage in competing despite her injury, the narrative shifted dramatically following the crash. Before the Games, her coach Aksel Lund Svindal had expressed confidence in her ability to contend for medals, noting that she recorded the third quickest time during a shortened practice session.
The American currently leads the World Cup standings, but this latest setback will likely curtail her downhill campaign with two months remaining in the season. Vonn’s remarkable comeback story now faces an uncertain future as she begins her recovery from the injury sustained in Italy.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the thin line athletes walk between ambition and the physical toll of their sport, revealing the complex interplay of courage and risk that defines high-stakes competition.
