Lindsey Vonn's Heartbreaking Olympic Crash at Milano Cortina 2026
Lindsey Vonn's Heartbreaking Olympic Crash
Lindsey Vonn's inspiring quest for Olympic glory at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics ended in tragedy just seconds into the women's downhill. The 41-year-old skiing legend, defying a ruptured ACL, bone bruise, and meniscus damage from a recent training fall, launched from the start house with fierce determination on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina, her cherished domain.[1][2]
The Terrifying Moment Unfolds
Merely 13.4 seconds in, Vonn clipped a gate with her right shoulder, lost control, and pinwheeled down the slope, landing awkwardly on her back with skis crisscrossed. Her agonized screams echoed as medical teams rushed to her side amid a stunned crowd's hush. Strapped to a gurney, she was airlifted to a clinic in Cortina, then rushed to Treviso for surgery on a fractured left leg.[1][3]
Legacy of a Queen of the Slopes
As World Cup downhill leader and four-time overall champion, Vonn had tested her battered knees successfully in prior runs under sunny skies. This crash, her second helicopter evacuation in nine days, may signal the end of a storied career, leaving fans mourning the queen of Cortina's unfulfilled medal dreams.[1][2]
About the People Mentioned
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn (born October 18, 1984, in St. Paul, Minnesota) is an American **alpine ski racer** widely regarded as one of the greatest female skiers in history.[4][5] She began skiing at age three, later moving with her family to Vail, Colorado, to pursue elite training, and first gained international attention at 14 by winning the slalom at Italy’s Trofeo Topolino, a first for an American girl.[1][5] Vonn made her **Olympic debut** at 17 at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games and went on to compete in four Olympics: 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2018.[2][5] At the **2010 Vancouver Olympics**, she became the first U.S. woman to win **downhill gold** and also earned **bronze in super-G**.[4][5] After missing the 2014 Sochi Games due to injury, she returned to win **bronze in downhill** at PyeongChang 2018, bringing her Olympic total to **three medals** (one gold, two bronze).[4][5][7] On the **World Cup** circuit, Vonn dominated speed events (downhill and super-G). She won **four overall World Cup titles** (2008–2010, 2012) and a record **eight World Cup downhill titles**, amassing **82 World Cup race victories** and 138 podiums before retiring in 2019.[3][4][5] At retirement, her 82 wins were the most by any woman in World Cup history, a mark later surpassed by Mikaela Shiffrin.[3][6] She also collected **seven world championship medals**, including two golds in 2009 (downhill and super-G).[3][4] Vonn’s career was marked by repeated comebacks from serious injuries, including multiple knee ligament tears and fractures, which contributed to her high profile and reputation for resilience.[3][5][6] Since retirement, she has remained prominent as a media personality, author, and advocate for women and girls in sport, and she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame for her achievements.[2]
