The Crash Unfolds Amid Challenging Conditions (Image Credits: Hollywoodlife.com)
Crans-Montana, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn tumbled into safety netting during a World Cup downhill race, injuring her left knee in an incident that unfolded one week before the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.[1][2]
The Crash Unfolds Amid Challenging Conditions
Vonn posted the fastest intermediate time at the first checkpoint. She lost control shortly after landing a jump, spinning across the snow before slamming into the nets high on the course. Medical personnel rushed to her side and tended to her for about five minutes.[2]
The 41-year-old skier struggled to her feet, favoring her left leg. She clipped back into her skis and descended slowly, pausing twice to grasp her knee. Visibility plagued the event, with snow falling heavily; two prior competitors, including Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen, also fell. Organizers halted the race soon after Vonn crossed the finish line, where she shared a lengthy embrace with teammate Jacqueline Wiles.[1]
Airlift and Vonn’s First-Person Update
Helicopter crews airlifted Vonn from the slope to a nearby hospital for checks, a standard procedure at remote Alpine venues. Her coach, two-time Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, reported initial physiotherapy assessments looked reassuring despite evident pain. “The physio did some checks and they seemed OK, but there were things he was not 100% sure,” Svindal explained.[1]
Vonn addressed supporters hours later via Instagram. “I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee,” she posted. “This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback. My Olympic dream is not over.”Full post She expressed gratitude to medical teams and concern for Monsen.
Dominance This Season Now Under Threat
Vonn entered the race as the downhill leader, with two wins and three more podiums across five outings. She reached the podium in seven of eight World Cup starts, blending downhill and super-G disciplines. Her form capped a remarkable return, highlighted by a super-G silver at the 2025 World Cup finals in Sun Valley.[1]
- Two downhill victories this season
- Three additional downhill podiums
- Leads downhill standings; sixth overall
- Podium in seven of eight total races
This momentum followed her April 2024 partial right knee replacement surgery. Vonn had retired in 2019 amid mounting injuries but reignited her career after feeling renewed post-operation.
Resilience Defined by a Battle-Tested Career
Injuries have shadowed Vonn’s path before. A 2013 super-G crash tore ligaments in her right knee, sidelining her for the 2014 Sochi Games despite a quick initial return. She still claimed 84 World Cup titles, 12 of them in Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of Olympic alpine events.[2]
Her latest comeback positions her as a medal contender in downhill, super-G, and the new team event. Observers view her as a centerpiece for Milano-Cortina, where women’s races begin February 8.
- Left knee injury confirmed; further tests ongoing.
- Race canceled after multiple falls in low visibility.
- Vonn remains downhill points leader despite setback.
Lindsey Vonn’s unyielding spirit faces its sternest test yet, with Olympic glory hanging in the balance. Further medical clarity will dictate her path forward. What do you think her chances are? Tell us in the comments.
