American skier Lindsey Vonn crashed seconds into her downhill Olympic race on Sunday after deciding to compete, even though she had torn her left ACL in a crash during a World Cup event in the Swiss Alps a week earlier.
A 41-year-old American who came out of retirement to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics previously confirmed that her ACL was completely torn but said she was confident she could still finish the race with the help of a knee brace.
Seconds into the race, Vonn lost control when she clipped the flag at the edge of the course, flying sideways into the air and hitting her head on the ground. She was responsive but did not wake up. Medical personnel placed him on a stretcher and airlifted him from the course.
In a statement, Team USA stated that Vonn’s “right ski pole broke a gate, causing her to lose her balance and spin out of control.”
After the crash, Vonn can be heard screaming that she can’t take off her skis.
Her father, Alan Kildow, was present in the stands, staring at the ground as his daughter received treatment. Others in the crowd, including Snoop Dogg, watched silently as the star skier was finally removed from the course that held so many of his memories.
Thomas Pronske of Austin, Texas, who was watching the event from the sidelines, told CBS News after the crash, “I hope she’s OK. It didn’t look good. We watched her go down pretty hard, and I’m praying and wishing the best for her. She was the biggest reason I came here. Her comeback story of overcoming adversity is just remarkable… I tore my ACL myself; I know it’s a painful injury… and again, I hope he’s okay.”
Thomas’ mother, Maria Pronske, told CBS News that she felt very bad for him with his knee, explaining that she was so inspired by Vonn that she came to watch the show on her birthday with an injured knee. poor thing. I’m so sorry for him. I pray for him, too.”
Krista Kosher, cousin of Jacqueline Wills, another Team USA skier who finished fourth in Sunday’s race, said it was “absolutely devastating to see her teammate being carried off the hill.”
Kosher said, “Lindsay and Jacqueline have been running together for years, and they definitely have a mentor-teacher relationship, and watching your friend lose is really challenging for everyone, but we wish Lindsay and her all the best in her recovery.”
Charles Christianson, a retired former ski racer from Park City, Utah, says the accident was “absolutely heartbreaking.”
Christianson said, “Everyone is here to cheer on the entire U.S. team and especially to celebrate Lindsay’s incredible career. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, but the truth is, Lindsay couldn’t have had it any other way.” “She knew the risks. Ski racers always accept that, and you saw her determination when she got out of the gate. She was charging. She never doubted what her goal was; it was either to reach the podium or not succeed at all, and this mindset applies to all competitors. So again, the respect of the crowd and everybody here shows how important she is to the sport. We’ll have to see what happens. We wish her the best of luck. However, we wish her all the best.
Before Sunday’s race, a Team USA official said that Vonn having a serious crash during the race was their biggest fear. With all the attention on him and his inspirational story, the image of him being taken out of the way during a race was his worst.
Before her retirement in 2019, Vonn had competed with a torn lateral collateral ligament, three tibia fractures and a bone bruise, and still won a bronze medal. He now has a titanium knee, although it is not the joint that is currently injured.
“Getting to these Olympics has been a journey, and some people didn’t believe in it from the beginning,” Vonn said in a social media post late Saturday. “I was retired for 6 years, and because of a partial knee replacement, I got the chance to compete once more. But why? It seems like everyone is asking me that question. But I think the answer is simple… I just love ski racing.
She said, “I’m not unsure about life outside of sports. I’m not looking for meaning or attention or money. “I know who I am and I also know what I’m made of.”
Vonn had set the third-fastest time in a training race on the Saturday before the race—behind her teammate Breezy Johnson. However, the race was stopped due to inclement weather before all racers could take part.
“I think it’s a good race,” said Vonn’s coach, Axel Lund Svindal. “The race is scheduled for tomorrow, and since it is the Olympics, the girls will be pushing themselves harder.” So probably everyone will be faster, which means Lindsay will have to run faster too. But it’s a solid race, and I think she has another gear.”
Johnson overtook Vaughn and finished the race in over 1:36.
