American alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn suffered a devastating crash during the Women’s Downhill race at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday,jeopardizing her comeback and Olympic aspirations. The crash occurred early in her descent on the olimpia delle Tofane piste in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Despite the fall,Vonn’s teammate,Breezy Johnson,secured the gold medal in the race. Germany’s Emma Aicher claimed silver, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind johnson, while Italy’s Sofia Goggia took bronze, according to provisional results.
Johnson’s Olympic victory follows her gold medal win at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.
Lindsey Vonn’s Crash and Potential Retirement
Vonn, 41, had been attempting a remarkable comeback after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee approximately a week before the Games. She was transported from the course via helicopter following the crash, receiving applause from fans as she departed.Medical staff attended to the visibly distressed athlete on the slope.
The crash occurred after 13 seconds of her run,as Vonn hit a firm patch of snow and tumbled down the slope with her skis attached,perhaps exacerbating the knee injury.
Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019 but made a return to the circuit in November 2024 after undergoing surgery to address persistent pain in her right knee. She had enjoyed a accomplished season leading up to the Olympics, with podium finishes in World Cup downhill and Super-G races, including victories in St. Moritz and Zauchensee.
Her olympic dream now appears to be over, and a lengthy recovery period could signal the end of her skiing comeback. Vonn had initially planned to compete in the team combined event on Tuesday and the Super-G two days later, but those plans are now uncertain.
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