Olympian Lindsey Vonn Crashes During Women’s Downhill Competition
Team USA’s Lindsey Vonn clipped the 4th flag and crashed during the women’s downhill ski competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. She had to be airlifted off the mountain by medical personnel.
The crash happened just 13.4 seconds into a run that should last 90 seconds. The crash comes just 9 days after Vonn ruptured her ACL in her left knee. She was in stable condition at the hospital.
Vonn was the first American woman to ever win the gold medal in women’s downhill skiing in 2010. At age 41, she was attempting to be the oldest to win gold. Teammate Breezy Johnson won gold this year for Team USA, and commented she heard Vonn was cheering for her in the helicopter. Johnson said of Vonn, “My heart goes out to her. It’s such a brutal sport sometimes.”
Another devastating crash ended the Olympic medal hope for Swedish competitor Sarah Hoefflin during the Women’s Freeski Slopestyle qualifying round. Her ski slipped out of its binding mid air, causing her to crash. Hoefflin quickly gave the thumbs up she wasn’t injured.