Lindsey Vonn wound up in the netting with injury after World Cup crash. She was airlifted off the mountain. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital after crashing in her last downhill race before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Vonn, who was competing in a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland at the time of the accident, lost control after catching air and landing awkwardly in poor conditions. She wound up in the safety nets that line the course. Soon after, the race was cancelled because half of the six racers also crashed.
Vonn, who is 41 years old, has enjoyed a comeback of note after returning from retirement in 2024. Of the eight World Cup races she has competed in this season, she made it to the podium in seven. The outlier was a fourth place finish. She’s got 84 World Cup race wins under her belt — a record for women’s skiing until 2023, when Mikaela Shiffrin took the torch — but as is all too often the case for high-level athletes, she has dealt with a spate of injuries during her career. In April of 2024, she had part of her right knee replaced, but once she recovered she got back on the horse and began to train hard again.
“Getting back to skiing without pain has been an incredible journey,” Vonn said at the time.
Vonn was likely to be one of the standouts in the Olympics, but her new injury now puts that under a shroud of doubt. After her crash, she was able to bear a bit of weight on her left knee, but only with the help of her poles. She made her way to the finish area under her own power and limped into the medical tent before she was airlifted away.
“I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee,” Vonn wrote on social media. “I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams.”
Vonn wasn’t the only one who had a rough go on the course. Norwegian Marte Monsen was also injured at the event. Vonn isn’t giving up yet, though, but she’s well aware of what her knee injury could mean.
“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,” she continued. “My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it. Thank you to all the medical staff who helped me today. I am grateful for all the incredible help I received.”
