American skier Lindsey Vonn’s Winter Olympics dream gone in 13 seconds after horror crash
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Fans reacting after Lindsey Vonn of the United States crashed during the women's downhill at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Belluno on Feb 8.
PHOTO: REUTERS
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO – US skier Lindsey Vonn’s bid to win Olympic downhill gold lasted 13 seconds on Feb 8 as the American great suffered a horrific crash early in her run.
The 41-year-old, whose battle to reach the start line despite a torn knee ligament
Wearing bib No. 13 and with a brace on the knee she injured in a crash at Crans-Montana on Jan 30, she looked pumped up at the start gate, tapping her ski poles before setting off in typically aggressive fashion.
Vonn has a deep knowledge of Cortina’s Olimpia delle Tofane, having won 12 World Cup races there in a glittering career.
But she appeared to clip the fourth gate with her shoulder and lost control. She then barrelled off the sunlit course at high speed before coming to rest in a crumpled heap.
Vonn could be heard screaming on television coverage as fans and teammates gasped in horror before a shocked hush fell on the finish area at the bottom of the Olimpia delle Tofane course.
She was quickly surrounded by several medics and officials before a yellow helicopter arrived and winched her off the course bound up in an orange stretcher.
The helicopter took Vonn to Cortina’s Codivilla Putti Hospital for a medical assessment. As it flew overhead towards the town, spectators applauded. There was no immediate word on her condition.
Fellow American Breezy Johnson, the world champion who had set the fastest time, covered her eyes and looked away as the helicopter was called. She was later crowned champion but it was a bittersweet day for the team. Germany’s Emma Aicher took silver while Sofia Goggia of Italy bagged bronze.
Vonn, the 2010 downhill champion, had been hoping to become the oldest Alpine skiing Olympic medallist after winning two World Cup races in 2026.
A helicopter carries Lindsey Vonn of the United States to the hospital in Cortina after her crash.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Vonn is the highest-profile athlete at the Games and the American’s crash sent shock waves on Feb 8.
Her teammate, downhill skier Bryce Bennett, watching in the town square on a big screen in Bormio, was left shocked by what he had seen.
“It’s obviously a bummer. It’s just like the risk of downhill is high and... Like, everyone makes it look so easy when it’s going smooth and then you see how quickly it can go in the other direction.”
“Her right leg didn’t look so good, but we’ll see,” he added.
An image of Lindsey Vonn of the United States crashing is shown on the big screen during the women’s downhill.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Even TV commentators were visibly shaken by Vonn’s crash.
Double Olympic gold medallist Tina Maze, working for Eurosport, said Vonn had risked too much in her run.
“Of course if you’re not healthy then the consequences are even worse, but we know all Lindsey,” she said. “It’s her decision that she wanted to do this no matter what.
“It’s really tough for everyone here to see this and especially for her family and her teammates. It’s terrible.”
International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch gave his thoughts on the crash, saying: “Tragic, but it’s ski racing, right?
“And I can only say, thank you for what she has done for our sport because this race has been the talk of the Games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light. I hope she will have a speedy recovery, and is back on skis very, very soon.
“A lot of people are going to say she shouldn’t have been racing today with that type of injury.”
Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, said she had put her “whole heart” into racing at the Olympics on a course she loves.
“That’s definitely the last thing we wanted to see,” she told NBC. “When that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay, and it was scary. She dared greatly and she put it all out there.”
In other action on Feb 8, Julia Simon hit all 10 of her shots as she stormed through the final leg to secure gold for France in a thrilling biathlon mixed relay at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena.
Lisa Vittozzi anchored host nation Italy to the silver medal and Germany picked up the bronze.
Veteran Austrian snowboarder Benjamin Karl retained his Olympic men’s parallel giant slalom crown in thrilling style, powering back to beat South Korea’s Kim Sang-kyum. Bulgaria’s Tervel Zamfirov took bronze.
Czech snowboarder Zuzana Maderova won gold in the women’s event, ahead of Austria’s Sabine Payer and Italy’s Lucia Dalmasso.
Norway’s Johannes Klaebo tore away from the pack in a powerful finish to win the men’s skiathlon and claim his sixth Olympic gold medal.
France’s Mathis Desloges took the silver while Norway’s Martin Nyenget won bronze after 10km of classic and 10km of freestyle cross-country skiing. REUTERS, AFP
