Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic Downhill Hopes Dashed: Helicopter Evacuation After Early Crash

Lindsey Vonn, the legendary American skier, faced a devastating crash on the Olympic downhill course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Sunday. Competing with a severely injured left knee, the 41-year-old was quickly attended to by medical personnel and later airlifted from the slope by helicopter after an agonizing wait.

Vonn’s crash occurred when she lost control over the initial traverse, misjudging her line and causing her to spin out mid-air. Her screams echoed through the course, drawing immediate attention from medics who swiftly secured her to a gurney. This incident could potentially mark the end of her illustrious skiing career. The U.S. Ski Team reported that she would undergo further evaluation, though details about her condition were not immediately available.

The race was temporarily paused to allow for Vonn’s treatment. Meanwhile, her teammate Breezy Johnson emerged as the early leader in the competition.

Among the spectators were Vonn’s family, including her father Alan Kildow, who watched in distress as his daughter received medical care just seconds into her run. The crowd, which included rapper Snoop Dogg, fell silent as Vonn was transported from the course, where she holds an impressive record of 12 World Cup victories.

Vonn entered these Olympics as a beacon of inspiration, having returned to top-tier skiing last season after nearly a six-year hiatus. Despite her age and a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee, she aimed to add another gold medal to the one she earned in the 2010 Vancouver Games. Her remarkable comeback story captivated many, who eagerly anticipated her performance.

The four-time overall World Cup champion stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.

Still, no one counted her out even then. In truth, she has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.

“It’s definitely weird,” she said then, “going from the hospital bed to the start gate.”

Cortina has always had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn. She tested out the knee twice in downill training runs over the past three days before the awful crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.

“This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”