Skiing icon Lindsey Vonn suffered a crash during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics on Sunday. The 41-year-old athlete had recently endured a left ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury just nine days earlier.
Vonn’s comeback took a devastating turn as she crashed shortly into her session, prompting immediate medical assistance and the deployment of a stretcher. Audible sobs and signs of distress from the Olympic star indicated significant pain, leaving spectators in shocked silence as she was airlifted onto a stretcher and likely transported to a nearby medical facility.
Five-time Olympic skier Graham Bell expressed astonishment while providing commentary on BBC Two, remarking on Vonn’s crash and the risks she had undertaken to compete.
Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, who had raced alongside Vonn, emotionally reflected on the incident during commentary, expressing deep concern for Vonn’s well-being and acknowledging the challenging nature of the course and the immense pressure Vonn faced.
Vonn had previously been hospitalized via air ambulance on January 30 following an ACL injury at a World Cup event in Switzerland. Despite a remarkable recovery that allowed her to participate in practice sessions leading up to the Winter Olympics, her final appearance at the games concluded tragically with the downhill crash on Sunday.
Following Vonn’s crash, there was a 20-minute delay in the competition before it resumed. Another skier, Cande Moreno, also experienced a crash on the course’s steepest section, holding her knee before being airlifted for medical attention.
In other news, Sky has announced a discount on its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering savings to viewers and an expanded lineup of live sports coverage, including over 1,400 matches across the Premier League and EFL, with a promise of at least 215 live Premier League games next season.