The Winter Olympics are underway, and many major events have already happened. Lindsey Vonn, a 5 time Olympic participant in Alpine skiing, returned from her retirement to participate in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Throughout her career, she has won three Olympic medals: gold in downhill (2010), bronze in Super-G (2010), and bronze in downhill (2018).
Although many had high hopes for Vonn and her ability to perform this year, she had major complications. Vonn has had multiple ACL tears, sustaining one only a few days before her Olympic competition. Through the pain Vonn chose to still compete, and a medal was highly anticipated from many around the world. Vonn came out of retirement for her fifth Olympic appearance, hoping to add to her legacy. However, what many hoped would be a triumphant comeback instead turned into a heartbreaking and serious crash early in her race.
Just 13 seconds into the downhill run on February 8, Vonn’s skis clipped a gate as she went into a turn on the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. This disaster became painfully clear as her right arm hooked the gate, twisting her off balance at high speed. She fell down the snowy slope and came to a stop before medical staff could reach her. Within minutes, a helicopter was called to airlift her from the course to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
Doctors at the Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, Italy, later revealed that Vonn had suffered a complex fracture of the tibia in her left leg. This type of fracture involves multiple breaks in the shin bone and is considered severe, requiring multiple surgeries to repair and months of rehabilitation. Although the ACL injury was just days before the event, according to the Los Angeles Times, experts say that injury did not directly ccause her Olympic crash. Vonn has also shared that she does not regret her decision to compete and remains grateful for the support from fans, teammates, and medical staff.
Vonn’s Olympic bid may have ended much earlier than she hoped, but her courage, resilience, and determination through pain continue to inspire many around the world.
