Shocking Olympic Setback: Lindsey Vonn’s Broken Leg Alters Skiing Legacy

Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic dreams were shattered on Sunday following a devastating crash that left her with a broken leg. The 41-year-old skier’s ill-fated descent occurred at the World Cup event in Cortina, Italy, where she was thrown into a harrowing cartwheel after catching a flag just 13 seconds into her downhill race.

Vonn was quickly airlifted to a hospital in Treviso, where surgeons operated on her left leg to stabilize the fracture. In a statement, the hospital confirmed, “In the afternoon, she underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture sustained in her left leg.”

Following the procedure, Vonn was moved to intensive care. This decision was made primarily for privacy concerns rather than due to any pressing medical issues. The U.S. team has reassured fans that the 2010 gold medalist is in a “stable” condition.

The crash was particularly heartbreaking for Vonn, who had already been battling injuries. Just nine days earlier, she suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in her left knee during a warm-up event in Switzerland. Despite this setback, she surprised many by announcing her intention to compete in Italy and even posted the third-fastest time in the final practice run.

Vonn could be heard screaming in agony after the crash, which followed just nine days after she ruptured cruciate ligaments in her left knee during a warm-up competition in Switzerland. She went on to cause surprise by declaring her intention to compete Italy and threatened a monumental outcome by finishing third fastest in final practice.

However, her crash brought the curtain down on her fifth Games appearance in distressing fashion. Vonn is yet to comment.  

Team USA shared an update on Lindsey Vonn’s condition after her devastating crash 

The former Olympic champion crashed during the women’s downhill final on Sunday 

Vonn was taken off the slope and to a local hospital via helicopter after the premature finish

Vonn sped over a hill and careered into one of the plastic markers on the side of the track before hitting the ground. Her right leg appeared to hit the ground first, as a cloud of powder engulfed the American. Vonn then tumbled forwards again, appearing to smash her shoulder into the ground, before coming to a halt on the slope.

The Cortina crowd fell silent as medical crews arrived to attend to Vonn, who was later airlifted off the mountain.

Serious concerns were raised when Vonn, whose skis had not detached from her boots, was seen wincing in pain as she lay on her back in the snow. The American was also heard crying out in agony as the medics placed her onto a stretcher.   

Around six hours after the horror incident, the US Ski and Snowboard Team also shared an update on Vonn’s condition.

‘Update: Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,’ a spokesperson said. 

Vonn’s horrified family watched on in shock from the base of the slope. Her sister, Karin Kildow emotionally opened up on the devastating scenes. 

‘I mean that definitely was the last thing we wanted to see and it happened quick and when that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay,’ Kildow said on NBC, per USA Today.

‘And it was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign. But she really … she just dared greatly and she put it all out there. So it’s really hard to see, but we just really hope she’s okay.

The American is transported into the back of an ambulance after being carried of the run

Vonn, who ruptured her ACL just before the Winter Olympics, appeared to lose control as she glided over a jump just 13 seconds into her run

‘She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I’m sure they’ll give us a report and we’ll meet her at whatever hospital she’s at.’

Vonn had defied the impossible by coming back to compete after rupturing her ACL prior to the Games and had completed multiple training runs in the build-up to Sunday’s event.

While concerns have arisen over whether the 2010 Olympic champion was taking a risk in entering the competition – having undergone a reconstruction in her right knee back in 2024 and rupturing her ACL before the tournament – Vonn had made the decision to compete in Sunday’s downhill final. 

She had posted a time that was 1.39 seconds off the fastest run during a training session on Friday. 

The American, who has won 84 World Cups across multiple alpine skiing events during her glittering career, would improve on that on Saturday, posting a time of one minute and 38 seconds, which was 37 seconds shy of team-mate Breezy Johnson, who went on to claim gold on Sunday. 

As Vonn left the gates on Sunday, her coach was heard shouting, ‘keep charging, keep pushing’.  

The downhill event was subsequently suspended, with other competitors removing their skis at the top of the slope as they waited for Vonn to be evacuated.