The worst-case scenario for Olympian Lindsey Vonn came just seconds into the women’s downhill final in Cortina, Italy, on Sunday afternoon.Vonn’s body struck a gate as she made her first big jump less than 13 seconds into her run, altering her momentum and direction, prompting a scary crash as she flung sideways and bombed out.The race was on hold for more than 20 minutes as Vonn was tended to on the course. The scene at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre was eerily quiet, as thousands at the bottom of the mountain, including Vonn’s family, were left stunned and largely speechless. The worldwide feed initially caught audio of Vonn’s brutal cries from pain after her horrifying spill. Downhill skiing is the fastest and most dangerous alpine event; the Olympia delle Tofane course routinely saw Sunday’s racers eclipse 75 miles per hour as they hurled themselves down one the world-renowned venue.Vonn was put on a stretcher and had to be airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital. In a Sunday afternoon update, Vonn has a broken left leg, according to the Associated Press. Vonn received treatment from a “multidisciplinary team” and “underwent an orthopedic operation to stabilize a fracture reported in her left leg,” the Ca’ Foncello hospital said in a statement to the AP.
“Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” a statement from U.S. Ski and Snowboard said Sunday morning.A photo captured by the Associated Press shows the split second where Vonn’s critical mistake led to her crash.
Vonn, 41, was attempting to make history as the oldest woman to ever medal in the event that she took gold in back at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
NORLANDER: Vonn knew the risks. It’s why she’s an all-time greatVonn’s run was the most anticipated event of these Games not just because of her worldwide fame and a longstanding place among the all-time greats in her sport, but also due to the torn left ACL she suffered nine days ago in Switzerland while competing in her final pre-Olympics race. Vonn successfully made it down the same mountain and ski trail on Friday and Saturday in the lead-up to Sunday’s final. Karin Kildow, Vonn’s sister, was interviewed on Peacock less than an hour after the crash.”That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see,” Kildow said. “She always goes 110%, there’s never anything…
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2026-02-08 19:12:13
