Lindsey Vonn Airlifted from Olympic Downhill After Horrific Crash
American skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn was dramatically airlifted off the mountain following a terrifying crash during the women's downhill event at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. The 41-year-old champion, who won gold in Vancouver in 2010, clipped a gate early in her run and somersaulted off the course, leading to an extended delay as medical teams rushed to her aid.
High-Risk Gamble Ends in Tragedy
Vonn had been determined to compete despite tearing her ACL in a warm-up race in Crans-Montana just over a week before the Olympic event. Wearing a brace on her injured knee, she had completed two practice runs on the Cortina course on Friday and Saturday, with her coach Aksel Lund Svindal expressing confidence that she was in good enough condition to challenge for a medal.
The huge crowd at the Tofane Alpine Centre fell almost silent as Vonn received extended treatment on the slopes, then broke into cheers as the medical helicopter arrived to whisk her to hospital. The incident cast a shadow over the competition, with former British Olympian Chemmy Alcott, co-commentating for the BBC, visibly distressed by the scenes.
Emotional Reactions from the Skiing Community
Alcott criticised the decision to allow Vonn to start, stating: It boils me with rage that Lindsey Vonn was even allowed to start this bloody race in the first place. She highlighted the increasing temperatures and changing snow conditions, suggesting later athletes would face greater risks due to the inconsistent surface.
Double Olympic champion Tina Maze, speaking on Eurosport and TNT Sports coverage, echoed concerns about the risks outweighing potential rewards. We all know the difficulties Lindsey was going through in the last days, and I think in the end she risked too much, Maze said. This kind of crash can happen of course, if you are not healthy the consequences are even worse, but Lindsey wanted to do this no matter what.
Vonn's Determined Comeback Journey
Vonn had initially retired from skiing in 2019 after a series of injuries but made a remarkable comeback following a partial knee replacement in April 2024, returning to competition in December of that year. This season, she had won two World Cup events and was considered among the favourites for the downhill before her fall in Switzerland.
In an emotional Instagram post published on Saturday, Vonn had underlined her determination to prove critics wrong. I will stand in the starting gate tomorrow and know I am strong, she wrote. Know that I believe in myself. Know that the odds are stacked against me with my age, no ACL, and a titanium knee- but know that I still believe.
She added: I will race tomorrow in my final Olympic Downhill and while I can't guarantee a good result, I can guarantee I will give it everything I have. But no matter what happens, I have already won.
The skiing community now awaits updates on Vonn's condition following this heartbreaking incident at what was intended to be her final Olympic downhill race.
