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In a dramatic turn of events at the Olympic downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Lindsey Vonn suffered a significant crash while navigating the course on a severely injured left knee. The 41-year-old American skiing legend needed immediate medical attention on the snowy slopes before being airlifted by helicopter for further treatment.
The accident occurred when Vonn lost her balance during the initial traverse, misjudging her line and spinning wildly in mid-air. Her agonizing screams echoed over the course, prompting medical teams to rush to her side. She was carefully placed on a gurney and evacuated, casting doubts on whether this incident might mark the end of her illustrious career.
Racing was temporarily halted as Vonn was attended to, while her fellow American, Breezy Johnson, took the early lead in her absence.
Among the spectators were Vonn’s family, including her father, Alan Kildow, who watched anxiously as his daughter received care. The crowd, which included rapper Snoop Dogg, observed in somber silence as Vonn was finally taken from a course that holds countless cherished memories for her.
Vonn’s return to competitive skiing had been a heartwarming narrative leading up to the Olympics. After a nearly six-year hiatus, she had made a remarkable comeback, despite significant challenges, including a partial titanium knee replacement. Her resilience at 41 was already a feat, and many had been eager to see how she would perform on the grand stage once more.
She 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.
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