Veteran skier Lindsey Vonn encountered a mishap during the final women’s downhill alpine skiing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday. The 41-year-old was competing shortly after sustaining a serious left anterior cruciate ligament injury just nine days prior.
Vonn’s highly anticipated return took a tragic turn as she crashed early in her run. Medical personnel quickly attended to her, and she was subsequently stretchered off the course.
Visibly distressed and in pain, the Olympic star was airlifted from the scene, likely for immediate medical attention at a nearby medical facility.
Graham Bell, a five-time Olympic skier, expressed shock while providing commentary on BBC Two. He lamented, “Oh no, She’s gone. She has crashed, she did everything she could, she has gone on the top of the course and the crowd are stunned.
“She took all of the risks to get here. She proved in the training run that she could get to the starting gate.”
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Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, who competed alongside Vonn, emotionally commented on the incident.
She shared, “I feel overwhelmed with emotion. We never imagined her story would end in such a tragic manner, motionless on the slope.
“The top section was challenging, especially for an injured athlete like her. She was pushing hard, aiming for a podium finish despite her knee injury. It’s a heartbreaking sight.”
“The world watched, hoping to see her triumphant finish, but it’s a tough reality to face.”
“I feel the weight of sadness for her family and team. The risks were immense, and now we witness the consequences. The audience shares the anguish, yet holds onto hope.”
Vonn had previously suffered an ACL
