Lindsey Vonn’s bid for an unlikely Olympic medal ended in a devastating crash just 13.4 seconds into the women’s downhill final, reports Baltimore Chronicle via NBC News. Competing only nine days after suffering a ruptured ACL in her left knee, Vonn, 42, attempted to become the oldest Alpine skier ever to win an Olympic medal.
Under clear, sunny skies at the Tofane course, Vonn started as the 13th racer among 24 competitors. She tapped her poles three times before pushing off from the gate, but before reaching the first timing marker, she lost control, tumbled violently, and struck her head. The broadcast captured the screams of pain, while spectators at the base, including Vonn’s family, fell into stunned silence.
Medical staff quickly attended to Vonn, securing her to a stretcher and zipping her into a red medical bag. She was then airlifted from the course, leaving the crowd, who had been waiting to see her finish, watching the helicopter depart in silence.
Vonn’s crash came on a course she has often favored, and just a week after she posted the third-fastest time in Saturday’s training session. Earlier, her sister Karin Kildow expressed cautious optimism to NBC News, saying, “We’re blasting music, we’re like today is a beautiful day and all the energy is in the right place, so we’re really, really excited. I can’t wait to watch her.”
American skier Breezy Johnson, racing sixth, took the early lead with a time of 1:36.1. The downhill event, known for its high speeds and challenging jumps, was already a marquee competition of the Olympics. Vonn’s participation added immense attention as the world watched to see if she could compete successfully despite her recent knee injury.
Vonn, who won the Olympic downhill in Vancouver 2006 and remains the only American woman to do so, has also earned two Olympic bronze medals in downhill in 2018 and super-G in 2010. After announcing her return from retirement in 2024, five years after injuries forced her to step back, she underwent robot-assisted surgery on her right knee, which she credited for her best season in a decade. Earlier this season, she reached the podium in all five World Cup races she entered, including two victories, becoming the oldest skier to win on the World Cup circuit.
Her crash at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, last month, which required an airlift, had already raised questions about her ability to compete at the highest level, and Sunday’s incident confirmed the risks of returning to elite competition so soon after a severe injury.
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