Lindsey Vonn Airlifted After Crashing in Final Pre-Olympic Downhill
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn suffered a dramatic crash during her final World Cup downhill race before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, leading to her being airlifted from the course and casting doubt on her Olympic participation. The incident occurred on Friday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where deteriorating weather conditions forced race officials to abandon the event after multiple falls.
Crash Details and Immediate Aftermath
Vonn, who was the sixth starter and first seeded racer, lost control after landing a jump on the upper section of the course. As snow fell steadily and visibility worsened, she skidded sideways into safety netting, with her airbag deploying upon impact. The 41-year-old remained down for several moments while medical staff attended to her on the piste.
After eventually standing, Vonn skied away gingerly, repeatedly taking weight off her left leg and using her poles for support. She stopped several times during her descent to check her knee, visibly limping as she reached the finish area. There, she shared a long embrace with teammate Jacqueline Wiles before being escorted to a medical tent for evaluation.
The situation escalated when Vonn was airlifted by helicopter from the finish area, suspended by rope as she was transported across the Swiss Alps. This dramatic exit revived memories of her previous serious injuries, including a 2013 crash at the world championships that also required airlifting.
Race Abandonment and Conditions
Race officials cancelled the downhill shortly after Vonn's crash, with three of the first six skiers having fallen in challenging conditions. The course had already been shortened due to weather concerns, and visibility emerged as a significant problem.
Other skiers experienced similar difficulties. Austria's Nina Ortlieb crashed in the same upper section as Vonn but managed to ski away, while Norway's Marte Monsen hit the nets near the bottom of the course and was taken away on a stretcher with facial injuries.
Romane Miradoli of France, one of the few competitors to complete her run, highlighted the visibility issues. "You can't see, and it's bumpy everywhere," she said. When asked whether conditions were dangerous, Miradoli added: "We just couldn't see well."
Olympic Implications and Vonn's Form
The timing of the crash is particularly concerning, coming exactly one week before the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Games. Vonn is scheduled to compete in the women's downhill on 8 February, along with the super-G and the new team combined event. The women's alpine events will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Vonn has enjoyed remarkable success with a record 12 World Cup victories.
Any injury at this stage represents a major concern for both the United States team and Olympic organisers, who have promoted Vonn as one of the standout stars of the Games. A US Ski and Snowboard spokesperson confirmed that Vonn was being evaluated following the fall.
This season, Vonn has been in outstanding form, leading the World Cup downhill standings with five podium finishes from five races, including two victories. Her performances have marked an impressive return to the top of the sport following a partial knee replacement on her right leg less than two years ago. After coming out of retirement last season following nearly six years away from competition, Vonn has described her physical condition as the best it has been in years.
Injury History and Career Legacy
The crash brought back memories of Vonn's injury-plagued career. Beyond the 2013 world championship incident, she suffered further knee damage the following season, causing her to miss the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Throughout her career, she has also broken arms and legs and sustained a concussion.
Despite these setbacks, Vonn remains one of the most decorated skiers in history. She won Olympic downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, eight years after making her Olympic debut as a teenager in Salt Lake City. Alongside teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, she ranks among the most successful female World Cup racers of all time.
Friday's race in Crans-Montana was scheduled to be the final competitive downhill before Olympic training begins next week, with the first official downhill training run planned for Wednesday. The incident has created uncertainty around Vonn's Olympic preparations and raised questions about whether she will be fit to compete in what could be her final Olympic appearance.
