Lindsey Vonn suffered a terrifying crash during the Olympic downhill event, ending her highly anticipated comeback just seconds into the race.
Only 13 seconds into her run, the 41-year-old clipped a gate, lost control, and crashed hard. Screaming in pain, she slid across the course before being airlifted to a hospital, where she underwent surgery for a broken leg. Officials confirmed her condition is stable.
U.S. Alpine Director Anouk Patty said, “She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a process. This sport is brutal, and people forget how fast these athletes go.”
The accident sparked debate, with some questioning whether Vonn should have competed at all, as she entered the race with a torn ACL.
Vonn has not spoken publicly yet, but her coach Aksel Lund Svindal revealed her touching words after the crash. Before being taken to the hospital, she told coaches: “Tell Breezy congrats and good job,” referring to teammate Breezy Johnson.
Johnson went on to win Olympic gold in the downhill, finishing with a time of 1:36.10. She was watching from the bottom of the course when Vonn fell and later broke down in tears.
Fellow American skier Isabella Wright called the moment heartbreaking, saying, “If anyone could do it, Lindsey could. She deserved a better ending. We’re all hoping to see her and support her.”
Vonn’s courage and sportsmanship in the face of injury have left a lasting impression, even as her Olympic dream came to a painful end.