Additional Blow to Torn Cruciate Ligament... "Queen of Skiing" Vonn Airlifted by Medical Helicopter After Mid-Race Crash

Injured in Women's Downhill at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Pushed Ahead to Compete Despite Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Dream of Becoming Oldest Alpine Skiing Medalist Shattered

Alpine skiing star Lindsey Vonn (41, United States) lost her balance early in the race, crashed, and was transported by a medical helicopter.

On February 8 (local time), Vonn suffered a freak accident in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center in Cortina, Italy, and was unable to finish the race.

Starting 13th on the day, Vonn gritted her teeth and powered out of the gate, but after hitting a gate early in the course, she lost control of her body and tumbled across the snow. She was unable to get back up. Medical staff gathered around her, checked her condition, and then called in a medical helicopter. Athletes and spectators at the venue watched the footage of Vonn’s crash on the big screen with pained expressions.

Vonn Lindsey, the ski queen, was involved in an accident during the women's downhill at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Cortina (Italy) = AP Yonhap News

Vonn is a superstar in this event, having won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She retired in 2019, then returned to competition for the 2024-2025 season to prepare for these Olympics. This season, she had raised expectations by recording two wins, two runner-up finishes, and three third-place finishes on the FIS (International Ski Federation) World Cup circuit, before being derailed by injury.

On January 30, she competed in a World Cup event in Switzerland, where she injured her left knee while landing after a jump during the race. Despite being diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Vonn pushed ahead with her Olympic bid and fueled hopes by completing full training runs on the Olympic course.

Spectators were dismayed after Lindsey Vonn collapsed during the women's alpine skiing downhill race at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Cortina (Italy) = AP-Yonhap

On her social media, she wrote, "It is very hard to face this outcome just one week before the Olympics," adding, "But if there is one thing I am good at, it is coming back. My Olympic dream is not over." She dreamed of a "miracle" as she trained normally on the Olympic course, but in the end, she left the slopes due to an unexpected injury.

The exact extent of Vonn’s injury has yet to be confirmed, but there is concern that the additional impact on her already torn ACL could affect even her daily life going forward. Vonn had been scheduled to compete in the women’s downhill, super-G, and team events in alpine skiing at these Winter Olympics. Had she won a medal, she could have become the oldest alpine skiing medalist in Winter Olympic history.

Lindsey Vonn is being airlifted by helicopter after suffering a freak accident during the women's downhill at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Cortina (Italy) = AP/Yonhap