Lindsey Vonn’s Determined Olympic Journey Ends with Injury in Cortina d’Ampezzo

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn’s quest for an extraordinary Olympic medal concluded dramatically on Sunday when she suffered a broken left leg following a crash just 13.4 seconds into the downhill final.

Despite performing while recovering from a ruptured ACL in her left knee, Vonn was unable to complete the final event at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Her ambition was to become the oldest Alpine skier to obtain an Olympic medal, either male or female.

In ideal conditions on the renowned Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Vonn, the 13th competitor out of 36 skiers, began her descent on the 1.6-mile track. She tapped her poles together before starting, but shortly after, she crashed, hitting her head before coming to a halt. Her cries of pain were audible on the broadcast.

Lindsey Vonn was quickly attended to by medical staff and was airlifted from the course by helicopter. The unexpected silence among spectators, including her family, who were waiting at the finish line, was palpable. Within minutes of her crash, medical personnel had surrounded Vonn, who was then secured onto a stretcher and flown away for medical care.

According to Luca Zaia, the regional governor, Vonn had broken her leg and required surgery to stabilize the injury. The Associated Press and Reuters confirmed that the surgery took place. Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow expressed the family’s concern, saying Vonn put her entire heart into pursuing Olympic glory.

“That’s definitely the last thing we wanted to see,” Kildow shared with NBC’s Cara Banks. “When that occurs, you’re just hoping she’s okay, and it’s frightening. Seeing stretchers is never a good sign.”

Team USA’s head speed coach, Paul Kristofic, mentioned that Vonn was still under medical evaluation with no updates on her condition. “We don’t know anything really yet,” Kristofic commented to the press, emphasizing that decisions about her medical care would come after full assessment.

In an unrelated highlight, Breezy Johnson led with a time of 1:36.1, securing the gold medal. The narrow gap between gold and silver was merely four-hundredths of a second. Johnson now joins Vonn as the only U.S. women to have won Olympic downhill gold. However, Vonn’s efforts were the center of attention for many.

The distressing scene on Sunday contrasted with Vonn’s impressive performances, including the third-fastest training time on Saturday despite her knee injury a week earlier. Her condition made the outcome all the more tragic, particularly since the Cortina course is her favorite.

Johnson sympathized with Vonn, acknowledging the dual challenges and emotional pain associated with crashing on a beloved course. “My heart goes out to her. I know how daunting it is to ski this course, and crashing on it can be especially heart-wrenching,” Johnson expressed, relating from her own Olympic heartbreak in 2022.

The downhill event, one of Alpine skiing’s premier showcases, attracted even more focus than usual as fans around the world anticipated whether Vonn could claim victory despite her recent injury. Vonn had aimed to collect a medal long after her 2010 triumph at the Vancouver Olympics and two additional bronze medals in her storied career.

Vonn’s return to the sport in 2024, five years post-retirement due to recurrent injuries, was propelled by a robotically assisted surgery on her right knee, sparking what she described as her most robust season in a decade. Her consistent performances at World Cup events built anticipation for another medal opportunity.

Her stumble in Crans-Montana, Switzerland cast doubt about her competitive future, yet she resiliently returned and practiced with a brace at high speeds during the training runs leading to the final.

Before the event, Kildow shared an optimistic outlook with NBC News, feeling buoyed by a positive atmosphere and high spirits. Vonn’s familiarity with Cortina played to her favor—having secured numerous wins there, it was a key motivator for her Olympic comeback.

Despite her ACL rupture, Vonn competed fiercely, with her fragile condition heightening the tension in each turn as she raced. ACL tears are widely seen as some of the most debilitating injuries in sports, typically necessitating prolonged rehabilitation. Vonn’s rapid recovery was met with skepticism, but she confidently defended her ability to compete.

Tragically, Vonn’s valiant attempt to secure an Olympic medal came to a sudden end.

Andrew Greif reported from Milan, and Molly Hunter from Cortina d’Ampezzo. Andrew Greif covers sports for NBC News Digital, while Molly Hunter is a correspondent based in London for NBC News.