Lindsey Vonn suffers serious leg injury during Winter Olympics downhill
Lindsey Vonn suffered a serious leg injury in a high-speed crash during the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, reports BritPanorama.
The 41-year-old was attempting a remarkable comeback when she lost control early in her run, catching a gate with her arm and shoulder, and spinning through the air before landing heavily on the slope.
She was subsequently airlifted from the course and transported to a hospital, where medical officials confirmed that she was in stable condition following treatment.
Aksel Lund Svindal, Vonn’s coach and former Olympic champion, expressed admiration for her composure immediately after the incident. He highlighted her concern for teammate Breezy Johnson, who had set the leading time that would ultimately secure Olympic gold.
On social media, Svindal wrote, “Lindsey. You’re incredibly brave. You inspire people that follow your journey and us that work closely with you every day.”
“Yesterday was a tough day on the mountain. For everyone, but most of all for you,” he continued, noting that Vonn’s first message was to congratulate Johnson.
With Johnson’s victory achieved by a narrow margin, Vonn’s fall overshadowed the event, halting proceedings as medical staff attended to her.
Regarded as one of the most decorated alpine skiers, Vonn’s aspirations for one final Olympic chapter followed years of injury setbacks and a partial knee replacement, allowing her to resume competition in 2024 after retiring in 2019. Her preparations for the Games had been marred by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained just over a week prior to the downhill event.
Vonn’s comeback aspirations were abruptly curtailed when her race ended just seconds after leaving the start gate, marking a premature close to a remarkable story. After the fall, she underwent surgery to address her leg fracture and has since been reported as stable.
Johnson extended her best wishes to Vonn after the incident, stating, “I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through, and it’s not the physical pain – we can deal with physical pain – but the emotional pain is something else. I hope it’s not as bad as it looked.”
Vonn’s unfortunate crash serves as a poignant reminder of the risks athletes face in their pursuit of glory, and how quickly fortune can shift in the world of competitive sports.
