CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn's ambitious attempt to claim victory in the Winter Olympic downhill at the age of 41, following a major right knee reconstruction and a severely injured left knee, ended dramatically on Sunday with a serious crash. This incident, which left her with a broken leg, marked her second medical evacuation by helicopter in just nine days, raising concerns over the future of her illustrious skiing career.
Just moments after departing from the starting gate, Vonn lost her balance, struck a gate with her right shoulder, and spiraled uncontrollably down the slope. She fell awkwardly onto her back, her skis tangled beneath her, as her cries echoed through the snowy scene shortly after medical personnel arrived to assist her. The audience, filled with anticipation, fell into silence while Vonn received urgent care on the slope.
Once stabilized, Vonn was secured to a gurney and airlifted from the site, suggesting that her participation in the Olympics and possibly her entire skiing career might be over. Initially taken to a clinic in Cortina, she was later transferred to a larger medical facility in Treviso, approximately two hours south of Cortina.
The Ca' Foncello hospital later released a statement indicating that Vonn was “under the care of a multidisciplinary team” and had undergone orthopedic surgery to stabilize a fracture in her left leg. The U.S. Ski Team confirmed that she was “in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”
Chief of Sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard, Anouk Patty, provided reassurance, saying, “She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a bit of a process." She emphasized the inherent dangers of the sport, reminding viewers that athletes risk their lives racing down the mountainside at high speeds.
In a bittersweet turn of events, Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson emerged as a champion, becoming only the second American woman to win Olympic downhill gold, mirroring Vonn's own victory from 16 years prior. Johnson expressed empathy for Vonn's situation, illustrating the emotional weight that accompanies physical injuries in competitive sports. She reflected on her own crash in Cortina in 2022, which dashed her hopes of competing at the Beijing Olympics, and acknowledged the mental anguish Vonn was likely experiencing.
Supporting Vonn from the stands was her father, Alan Kildow, who watched somberly as medical teams assisted his daughter shortly after her descent ended in catastrophe. Among those observing were renowned figures, including rapper Snoop Dogg, as Vonn was evacuated from the scene. Mikaela Shiffrin, another prominent skier, shared her feelings on social media with a broken heart emoji.
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, described Vonn's crash as “tragic, but it’s ski racing” and commended her significant contributions to the sport. He stated, “Thank you for what she has done for our sport,” recognizing the heightened attention the race received following her unfortunate fall.
As the Olympics unfolded, Vonn was viewed as a remarkable comeback story. Having returned to the elite ski racing circuit last season after nearly six years away, her return was characterized by resilience, especially given her prior right knee surgery, which involved a titanium replacement. Despite suffering a ruptured ACL and additional knee damage just nine days before the Olympics, she was still a top contender for a gold medal in Cortina.
Vonn, often referred to as the 'Queen of Cortina,' had a history of success on the slopes of the Olympia delle Tofana, a course on which she had achieved record wins. She had expressed the significance of this comeback prior to the race, stating, “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. Definitely the most dramatic.” However, the dramatic turn of events during the race led to comparisons of her fall to Hermann Maier’s famous crash at the 1998 Nagano Games, bringing a new level of visibility to the risks involved in alpine skiing.
The news of Vonn’s crash rippled throughout the event, affecting many fans and supporters. American Megan Gunyou expressed her disappointment, noting the inspiring narrative surrounding Vonn and the heartbreak of witnessing her fall. Similarly, Canadian fan Dan Wilton echoed concerns for the champion, stating, “It was frightening. Really, your heart goes out for such a champion who is coming to the end of her career.”
