The 41-year-old comeback queen of alpine skiing clipped a gate at the top of her run and was airlifted by helicopter.
Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crashes during the women’s downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center on February 08, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo: Screengrab by IOC/Getty Images)
Updated February 8, 2026 11:46AM
Update February 8, 11:45 AM MT: Vonn is undergoing surgery to stabilize a fracture in her left leg, according to Associated Press.
Lindsey Vonn crashed in just 13.4 seconds in the Olympic downhill ski race on Sunday, February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Nine days after tearing the ACL in his left knee. Von Milan Cortina did not make the finals at the Winter Olympics and her condition was unknown at the time of writing.
NBC News Report That skier remains under medical evaluation in Cortina. Team USA head speed coach Paul Kristofic said the team is awaiting an update on his condition.
Vonn clipped a gate at the top of her run, pushing her off course at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Area, the Olympics wrote. website.
January 30th, just a few days before the Milan-Cortina Olympics Champion of American ski racing Crans-Montana tore the ACL in his left knee in a crash during a warm-up run before the World Cup.
Vonn, 41, was trying to become the oldest alpine skier to win an Olympic medal. in a NBC video During the crash, Vonn is shown under blue skies, tapping her skis and poles on the gate before launching downhill. After he made a turn, he crashed down the slope, lying flat on his back for several moments. Spectators and coaches were seen standing in silence on-screen.
Medical personnel placed Vaughn on a stretcher and airlifted him to a nearby hospital.
The day before his Olympic crash, the three-time Olympic medalist is in third place in a training race—while skiing on his injured knee.
Fellow Team USA skier Breezy Johnson won the alpine skiing gold medal shortly after Vonn was airlifted from the course. Johnson finished in a time of 1:36:10.
outside interview Vaughn in 2025, highlights his career and many achievements.
“Ski racing is something that I do, it’s not who I am. It doesn’t define me, but I still truly love it,” he said. outside At the time “it feels like home when I’m at the start gate. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been retired for six years – this is where I’ve spent most of my life.”