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Lindsey Vonn's final race before the Olympics took an unexpected turn.
The skier was airlifted to a hospital after crashing at the World Cup, just one week before the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lindsey lost control while attempting to land a jump on the upper section of the course in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30. As snow fell throughout the race, she skidded sideways into a nearby safety net.
After receiving medical attention, the 40-year-old was seen limping away while bracing her left knee. She had a total knee replacement on her right side in 2024.
Once she made it to the finish area, she was airlifted by a helicopter with a medic holding her as they dangled over the snowy Swiss Alps. The race was ultimately canceled after her crash, when three of the first six competitors also went down amid worsening weather conditions in the region.
Lindsey addressed the incident on Instagram, writing that she had injured her left knee in the fall.
"I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams," she explained. "Despite the difficult outcome just one week before the Olympics, I am confident in my ability to make a comeback." "My Olympic dream is not over."
It's unclear whether Lindsey's injury will prevent her from competing in the Winter Olympics. She is currently scheduled to compete in the Super-G, Team Combined, and women's downhill on February 8.
The skier, who became the first American woman to win gold in downhill at the 2010 Olympics, was expected to dazzle at the Winter Games after returning to the sport following a five-year hiatus.
She announced her retirement in 2019 after skiing took a significant toll on her body. But everything changed after she had her knee replaced. In November 2024, she told The New York Times: "I had a smile so wide it was coming through the back of my helmet."
For Lindsey, picking up her alpine ski poles wasn't about proving anything to anyone.
"I'm not chasing anything," she emphasized. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to be in this position given my career accomplishments. I don't feel any pressure. It's just me and the mountain, as it was in the beginning."
