Lindsey Vonn Injured in Final Race Before Milan Cortina Olympics
Lindsey Vonn’s final World Cup downhill race before the Winter Games took an unexpected turn, leaving the ski world holding its breath just days before the Milan Cortina Olympics. A hard crash in Switzerland resulted in a left knee injury, yet the American star made one thing clear within hours: her Olympic ambition remains alive.
The incident happened in Early 2026 during a World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Vonn, 41, lost control while landing a jump on the upper section of the course and became tangled in the safety nets. She was the third skier to crash during the race.
Medical staff attended to her on the slope for about five minutes. Although visibly in pain, Vonn stood up, leaned heavily on her poles, and skied slowly to the finish. She stopped several times on the way down, repeatedly clutching her left knee.
Hours later, after being airlifted from the course by helicopter, she shared a message on Instagram that quickly spread across the sports world.
“This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback,” Vonn wrote. “My Olympic dream is not over.”
Medical Uncertainty and Immediate Steps
Instagram | @realratedred | Medical exams are pending to determine Vonn’s Olympic eligibility following a knee injury.
Vonn confirmed the injury involved her left knee and said discussions were underway with her doctors and team. Additional medical exams were planned before any decisions about racing or Olympic participation could be made.
Her name still appeared on the start list for Saturday’s super-G race at the same venue, where she was assigned bib No. 15. At the time, it remained unclear whether she would compete.
The downhill race itself was canceled after her crash as snowfall intensified and visibility dropped further.
Conditions Raise Safety Concerns
Race conditions played a major role throughout the day. Vonn was the sixth skier to start and posted the fastest time at the first checkpoint. Trouble followed soon after when she landed a jump off-balance. She raised her left arm and pole in an attempt to recover, but the skis caught, sending her into a spin and then into the nets.
Two other racers had already crashed before her. Austria’s Nina Ortlieb went down in the same section of the course, while Norway’s Marte Monsen crashed near the finish and was taken away on a sled. Monsen slid roughly 40 meters toward the finish line. Her team later confirmed no head injury, though she experienced knee pain and returned home for further testing.
French skier Romane Miradoli, who completed her run as the second starter, said falling snow made visibility a major problem. “You can’t see,” she explained, adding that the surface was bumpy throughout. When asked about danger, she said the biggest issue was not being able to see clearly.
Despite the crashes, Jacqueline Wiles and Olympic champion Corinne Suter finished their runs. Wiles, who was leading when the race was halted, barely made a tight final left-hand turn that had caught out Monsen earlier.
Emotional Scene After the Fall
After leaving the course, Vonn limped into a medical tent. Before entering, she shared a long embrace with teammate Jacqueline Wiles. Her eyes were closed, and the tension was visible.
International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann addressed reporters shortly afterward. “I know she hurt her knee, I talked to her,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s really heavy and if she won’t miss the Olympics. Let’s wait for what the doctors are saying.”
Season of a Remarkable Comeback
The crash came during a season that had already rewritten expectations. Vonn returned to World Cup racing last year at age 40 after nearly six years away. Competing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she quickly reestablished herself at the top level.
This season, she led the downhill standings with two wins and three additional podium finishes across five races. Including super-G events, she completed eight World Cup races and finished on the podium seven times. Her lowest result was fourth place.
The timing added another layer of concern. The crash occurred exactly one week before the Milan-Cortina opening ceremony. Vonn was scheduled to compete in the women’s downhill on February 8, along with the super-G and the new team combined event.
Women’s alpine skiing at the Olympics will take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a venue where Vonn owns the record with 12 World Cup victories.
A History of Injuries
Instagram | @lindseyvonn | Chronic knee injuries and ill-timed setbacks repeatedly disrupted Vonn’s career and Olympic dreams.
Injuries have marked several chapters of Vonn’s career. One of the most serious occurred during the 2013 world championships in Schladming, Austria, where she tore her right knee in a super-G held under difficult conditions. She returned the following season but suffered another setback and missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
That history adds weight to the current situation, even as her recent performances showed consistency and speed rarely seen at this stage of an athlete’s career.
Crans-Montana Races Under a Shadow
The race weekend in Crans-Montana carried a somber tone beyond the competition itself. The town was still reeling from a devastating bar fire on New Year’s Day that killed 40 people and injured more than 100.
Race officials held a minute of silence before the event. Organizers stripped the finish area of color and sponsor signage. They placed white and black banners featuring a ribbon and the message “Our thoughts are with you,” written in French, German, Italian, and English.
Vonn’s crash has placed her Olympic plans in doubt, yet it has not closed the door. Medical evaluations will determine the severity of the knee injury, while recent results underscore why her presence in Milan-Cortina still matters.
With the women’s downhill just days away and Cortina d’Ampezzo standing as one of her most successful venues, the coming days will decide whether this setback becomes another pause or another comeback in one of alpine skiing’s most resilient careers.