U.S. Alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn crashed violently early in the women’s downhill race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 8, just nine days after completely rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-Games training crash, ending her bid for another Olympic medal in what may be the final race of her storied career.

Vonn, 41, clipped a gate marker near the top of the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course, lost control, twisted sideways in the air and tumbled hard onto the snow. She screamed in pain as she came to rest, prompting an immediate course hold. Medical staff attended to her for over 10 minutes before she was loaded onto a stretcher and airlifted off the mountain by helicopter — the second such evacuation in less than two weeks.

The incident occurred just 13 to 17 seconds into her run, before the first timing split. Vonn was wearing a knee brace on her injured left leg but had completed two solid training runs on the course earlier in the week, showing remarkable resilience. She finished 11th in one practice session despite the severe injury.

The crash came after Vonn stunned the skiing world by announcing on Feb. 3 that she would compete despite a full ACL tear, bone bruising and meniscal damage sustained Jan. 30 during the final World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. That race was canceled after poor visibility and multiple crashes, including Vonn’s, where she pinwheeled off course and into safety nets, requiring immediate airlift.

In a social media post and press conference, Vonn described the injury as “100% gone” but insisted she remained capable after “extensive consultations with doctors, intense therapy, physical tests as well as skiing today.” She emphasized her determination: “I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try. I’m not letting this slip through my fingers.”

Vonn’s comeback attempt drew massive attention as the biggest star of these Games. The five-time Olympian, who retired in 2019 after knee issues, returned specifically for Milano Cortina, aiming to add to her medal haul: bronze in 2006 downhill, gold in 2010 downhill and bronze in 2018 super-G.

Experts questioned the wisdom of racing on such a fresh injury, noting ACL tears typically sideline athletes for 6-12 months. Vonn pointed to precedent, including her 2019 World Championships bronze while managing knee problems. She underwent bracing, therapy and testing to confirm stability.

The Tofane course, known for its speed and technical demands, proved unforgiving. Vonn appeared to cut the line too tightly in the opening traverse, catching an edge or gate that spun her. She flipped multiple times before landing hard, twisting her already compromised knee further.

Teammates and rivals expressed shock and support. Breezy Johnson, leading American hopes, posted the fastest training time but the race outcome shifted focus to Vonn’s wellbeing. The event paused as spectators fell silent, many in tears watching giant screens replay the fall.

Vonn’s history of injuries — including multiple knee reconstructions — made her decision polarizing. Supporters hailed her courage; critics worried about long-term damage. She addressed doubters Saturday: “Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”

Post-crash, no immediate medical update emerged beyond the airlift to a local hospital for evaluation. Sources indicated possible aggravation of her knee, head impact concerns and additional trauma. Her status for remaining events — potentially super-G or combined — appeared unlikely, marking a tragic end to her Olympic return.

Vonn’s legacy remains unmatched: four overall World Cup titles, 82 wins (second all-time), Olympic medals and World Championship golds. She revolutionized women’s skiing, advocating for gender equity and mental health.

Fans flooded social media with messages of love and admiration. Many called her attempt inspirational, embodying perseverance. Others lamented the risk, but few doubted her grit.
As the Games continue, Vonn’s crash overshadowed early results. Johnson and others vied for medals, but attention stayed on the legend who defied odds — and paid a steep price.
Vonn has not commented publicly since the incident. Her team indicated updates would follow medical assessments.

The downhill gold went forward amid the hold, but Vonn’s story dominated headlines: a warrior’s final charge ending in heartbreak, yet cementing her as one of sport’s greatest competitors.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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BMW North America is recalling nearly 90,000 vehicles due to an engine starter issue, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Saturday.

The NHTSA said the recall involves 87,394 vehicles in the U.S. and is tied to an engine starter that may overheat, posing a fire risk, according to Reuters.

Dealers will replace the engine starter at no cost to owners, the NHTSA said.

The announcement comes after BMW recalled more than 145,000 vehicles in the U.S. in October over a starter defect that could overheat and spark a fire.

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BMW vehicles are displayed for sale on a lot at the BMW of South Austin dealership on May 16, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)

In September, BMW recalled 200,000 vehicles due to a similar issue, bringing the total number of affected vehicles to more than 341,000. Those recalls affected certain 2019–2025 vehicles across six models, including the 2020 340i, X6, 2020–2025 840i, 2020–2022 740Li, and 2019–2020 X7 and X5.

Multiple automakers have issued recalls in recent weeks, including Chrysler, which earlier this week recalled more than 450,000 vehicles and more than 2,000 tow-trailer modules because of a brake light failure that could increase the risk of a crash, the NHTSA said.

Last month, Toyota recalled more than 161,000 pickup trucks in the U.S. due to a software defect that can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.

That recall affected certain 2024 and 2025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid models equipped with the automaker’s Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system, according to the NHTSA.

CHRYSLER RECALLS MORE THAN 450,000 VEHICLES OVER BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE

A customer looks at a BMW X6 model on March 14, 2023. (Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

This week, federal regulators expanded an investigation into 1.27 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks following reports of safety issues related to the vehicles’ transmissions.

The NHTSA said drivers reported unexpected transmission downshifts in the trucks without warning or driver input, often causing temporary rear-wheel lockup or skidding and increasing the risk of a crash.

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BMW X6 luxury crossover SUV on display at an expo on Jan. 9, 2020. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

The probe covers 2015–2017 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with 6R80 transmissions. The F-150 is the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S.

FOX Business reached out to BMW for comment and to the NHTSA for additional information.

FOX Business’ Bonny Chu and Reuters contributed to this report.