Update: Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback ends in horrific downhill crash and another emergency airlift for the skiing legend
(February 9, 2026) Following Lindsey Vonn’s “defiant bid” to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics yesterday – even though she was suffering from her most recent knee injury, a ruptured ACL, a bone bruise and meniscus damage – ended in a well-documented wipeout that turned out to be a lot worse than we thought.
Following her dramatic crash in the early seconds of her downhill race: “She was treated for long, anguished minutes as a hush fell over the crowd waiting far below at the finish line. Vonn was strapped to a gurney and flown away, possibly ending the skier’s storied career. As medical staff attended to Vonn, she could be heard crying out,” according to ESPN.
Not too long after she was airlifted from the Italian slope, the U.S. Ski Team said in a statement that the legendary skier was “in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”
Later we learned the terrible news that Lindsey had broken her leg, the same leg that she injured only nine days earlier, and she was headed into surgery.
Sports Illustrated reports:
… Vonn underwent surgery to “stabilize a fracture reported in her left leg.” The U.S. Ski Team said the 41-year-old is in stable condition under the supervision of a team of American and Italian doctors.
Anouk Patty, chief of sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard, said, “She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a bit of a process. This sport’s brutal and people need to remember when they’re watching (that) these athletes are throwing themselves down a mountain and going really, really fast.”
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Ace News Today’s original story from Yesterday covering Lindsey’s downhill Olympic crash appears below its entirety.
(February 8, 2026) Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback hit a devastating roadblock on February 8, 2026, as the legendary American skier was forced to withdraw from the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, after she wiped out early in the race. Vonn, known for her tenacity and competitive spirit, appeared to lose control that resulted in a hard fall that left her visibly shaken but conscious.
Her attempted comeback ended in a horrific crash which came after she suffered a complete ACL rupture in her left knee nine days prior. Despite using a specialized knee brace, Vonn’s Olympic run lasted only 13.4 seconds before she went down on the slope today, according to The Guardian.
Vonn lost control after she appeared to clip a flag marking the side of the course, flew sideways in the air and hit her head on the ground. She was responsive but did not get up. Medical personnel put her on a stretcher and airlifted her from the course, according to CBS News.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard provided a statement on Vonn: “Lindsey Vonn fell in the Olympic downhill and will be evaluated by medical staff.”
Vonn remained prone on the snow, her screams audible on camera in the immediate moments after the crash. Medical staff worked on her as the event was halted. Loaded onto a stretcher, a medical helicopter hovered above to carry her from the mountain … Yahoo! Sports
As for Vonn’s future in skiing, opinions are mixed. Experts are torn between acknowledging her immense talent and the reality of her physical limitations due to years of high-impact competition. “At this stage in her career, every crash and injury has a much greater impact, but we also cannot ignore her extraordinary resilience and unmatched legacy,” said former Olympic skier Julia Mancuso. “Whether she chooses to continue competing or not, she’s already solidified her place as one of the greatest in the sport.”
While the 41-year-old Vonn’s future in downhill racing remains uncertain, her impact on the sport cannot be understated, and she has nothing left to prove. With her Olympic gold and bronze medals, two World Championship gold medals in 2009 (plus three silver medals in 2007 and 2011), and four overall World Cup titles, Vonn is one of the most successful American ski racers and is considered one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time.
If there is any silver lining to today’s events, it’s that Lindsey’s teammate, Breezy Johnson, won the gold medal in the event, marking the first U.S. medal of the 2026 Games.
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Everyone at Ace News Today
is wishing Lindsey a speedy and complete recovery!
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(Additional sources: NBC News, ESPN)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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