Crans-Montana, Switzerland
International Sports Desk | Breaking News
Crans-Montana, Switzerland — American alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, 41, was injured Friday during the final World Cup downhill race before the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, leaving her Olympic participation in doubt, according to multiple reports. Vonn crashed while landing a jump in difficult visibility and snowy conditions at the Crans-Montana course, injuring her left knee and requiring medical evaluation after the incident, officials said.
Lindsey Vonn lost control early in the downhill and skidded into safety netting, triggering her airbag as she fell, Reuters and The Guardian reported. She remained on the slope for several minutes as medical personnel attended to her before skiing gingerly to the finish area, visibly favoring her left leg. The race was canceled after a series of crashes under the worsening conditions.
The American ski icon, a former World Cup downhill standings leader this season with multiple podiums, was then airlifted by helicopter for further evaluation, sources said. Vonn made a social media post later Friday stating that despite the injury, her “Olympic dream is not over” and that she was consulting with her doctors and team as examinations continued.
Lindsey Vonn remarkable comeback has been a major storyline in the lead-up to the Milan-Cortina Games. The Minnesota-born skier retired in 2019 after an illustrious career highlighted by three Olympic medals, including downhill gold in 2010, and returned to competitive skiing in late 2024 following knee surgery. She defied expectations by winning World Cup downhill races late last season and had been preparing to compete in multiple events at the Olympics, including the women’s downhill scheduled for Feb. 8.
Lindsey Vonn coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, told Reuters that she was in pain following the crash and that further medical checks were needed before her Olympic status could be confirmed. Organizers and teammates expressed concern over the race conditions in Crans-Montana, which contributed to multiple early crashes among competitors.
The outcome of medical assessments in the coming days will determine whether Vonn, one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history, can still take part in her fifth Winter Olympics — a rare achievement for an athlete at 41. The story is developing.
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