Lindsey Vonn Injured in Final Downhill Before Milan Cortina Olympics, but Olympic Bid Remains Alive
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Just one week before the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, American alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn suffered a crash in her final World Cup downhill race on Friday that left her left knee injured and her Olympic participation uncertain.
The 41-year-old veteran, making a storied comeback for her fifth Olympics after retiring in 2019 and undergoing partial knee replacement surgery in 2024, lost control while landing a jump in challenging conditions at Crans-Montana. Vonn skidded into the course’s safety nets and fell, one of three competitors to crash in the event held amid poor visibility and snowfall.
After the impact, Vonn received on-site medical attention for several minutes before gingerly skiing to the finish area, favoring her left knee while using her ski poles for support. She stopped multiple times during the descent and appeared visibly in pain, prompting medical personnel to later airlift her from the venue for further evaluation.
Despite the scare, Vonn shared an optimistic message with her supporters on social media. “This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback,” she wrote, adding that she and her team are discussing her condition and she will undergo further medical examinations. “My Olympic dream is not over,” she said.
A Career Defined by Resilience
Vonn’s resume is one of the most decorated in women’s alpine skiing history. She has won numerous World Cup downhill races and multiple season titles, and she captured Olympic medals earlier in her career. After stepping away from competition in 2019, she returned to the sport with renewed focus and determination, quickly becoming one of the standout performers on the World Cup circuit this season.
Her comeback this season has been remarkable — competing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, Vonn has secured multiple podium finishes and victories on the World Cup tour. At Crans-Montana, she was the third to start in the downhill and registered the fastest time at the first checkpoint before the crash occurred.
What This Means for Milan Cortina
The crash cast doubt over Vonn’s readiness for the Olympics, where she was expected to be among the marquee competitors when the Games open on Feb. 6. Her first scheduled event is the women’s downhill on Feb. 8, followed by planned starts in super-G and the Olympic team combined event.
Officials canceled the downhill race in Switzerland after a series of crashes, including those involving Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen, reflecting the treacherous conditions on the course that day.
International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann acknowledged the situation’s uncertainty, telling reporters that it would take medical evaluation to clarify whether Vonn’s Olympic campaign is still viable.
Legacy and Next Steps
Vonn’s potential absence from competition would be a significant moment for the sport. A dominant force in downhill and a beloved figure worldwide, her return has been a narrative focal point of the 2026 season. Yet even in the face of adversity, her refusal to concede her Olympic aspirations underscores the resilience that has defined her career.
As medical teams assess the extent of her knee injury in the coming days, the skiing community will watch closely to see whether one of the sport’s greatest athletes can still race in Milan Cortina. For now, her message remains one of hope — and a reminder that in elite sport, even setbacks can be the source of new stories of determination.
