Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback ended in heartbreak as she was airlifted to hospital after crashing in the early stages of her women’s downhill run
Lindsey Vonn is ‘stable’ in hospital after enduring a horror crash on her Olympic return in the women’s downhill. Vonn was airlifted to hospital after crashing in the early stages of her women’s downhill run in Cortina.
The American damaged her ACL when falling in a World Cup contest at Crans-Montana just over a week ago. However, she was determined to compete in Sunday’s event at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.
Starting as the 13th skier, Vonn clipped a gate and somersaulted off the course just seconds into her run, silencing the Cortina crowd. Vonn was on the ground for around 15 minutes before being airlifted off the course, with spectators cheering her as the helicopter flew over.
And in an update released on Sunday evening, Team U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team confirmed: “Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”
In a separate update, Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, told USA Today: “I mean, that definitely was the last thing we wanted to see and it happened quick and when that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay.
“And it was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign. But she really … she just dared greatly and she put it all out there. So it’s really hard to see but we just really hope she’s okay.
“She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I’m sure they’ll give us a report and we’ll meet her at whatever hospital she’s at.”
After a lengthy delay while the course remained closed, Vonn’s fellow American Breezy Johnson secured Team USA’s first medal of the Winter Olympics, finishing in 1:36:10 to take gold – the first American to do so since Vonn herself.
And speaking afterwards, Johnson said: “My heart goes out to her (Vonn). I hope it’s not as bad as it looked.
“I know how difficult it is to ski this course and how sometimes, because you love this course so much, when you crash on it and hurts you like that, it hurts that much worse. My heart just goes out to her.”
Another team-mate, fourth-placed Jacqueline Wiles, said: “I’m still processing a lot, after what happened with Lindsey. She looks hurt quite a bit. So I’m really happy, proud of Breezy and my heart hurts for Lindsey.
“It sucks for her. We’re such a tight group. Lindsey has really been a huge mentor for all of us and seeing her go down like that, it really sucks.
“It doesn’t change anything about her legacy. She’s a fighter and that’s the way that she’s going to go out and ski every time.”
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