Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured left knee, crashed early in the Olympic downhill Sunday and was taken off the course in a helicopter after the 41-year-old American received medical attention for several minutes.
Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air. She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel. She was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s storied career.
She had been scheduled to compete again Thursday in the super-G. That is now in jeopardy.
The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team shared an update on Vonn’s health several hours after the crash.
“Update: Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” the update on X read.
Karin Kildow, Lindsey Vonn’s sister, said her family is “hoping for the best” after her sister crashed early during the women’s downhill run — a crash that led her tumbling through the air and screaming, before being tended to by medical personnel and being airlifted off the mountain.
“That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. It happened quick. So when that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay,” Kildow said. “It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, that is not a good sign.”
The crash crumbled the 41-year-old’s Olympic comeback dream, which she pushed ahead in pursuing just over a week after she tore her ACL.
Vonn initially retired from skiing in 2019, but she announced her comeback to the sport in later 2024. Her appearance at the Milan Cortina Games comes 24 years after she made her Olympic debut at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and 16 years after winning her last gold medal in Vancouver.
“She just dares greatly,” Kildow said. “She put it all out there so it’s really hard to see, but we just really hope she’s okay.”
Kildow went on to say that her sister always gives her all in her sport, while acknowledging the dangers of alpine skiing.
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