Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Dreams Shattered by Painful Crash Following ACL Tear
In a heart-wrenching moment, Lindsey Vonn's pursuit of Olympic glory came to a crashing halt.
The 41-year-old skier faced a devastating fall during her downhill run at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 8, merely nine days after tearing her ACL completely.
Just 13 seconds into her run, Vonn's screams echoed across the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, as medical personnel rushed to her side.
In a scene reminiscent of her earlier injury on January 30, when she tore her ACL during a World Cup event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Vonn was airlifted from the course by helicopter.
The U.S. Ski & Snowboard team confirmed the incident, stating, “Lindsey Vonn fell in the Olympic downhill and will be evaluated by medical staff.”
Captured in a poignant photograph by Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin, Vonn’s right ski pole appeared to clip a gate, triggering the crash.
Just a day prior to the race, Vonn defended her decision to compete despite her injury, responding to sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer.
“lol thanks doc,” she posted on X on February 7. “My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
Vonn also took issue with USA Today columnist Greg Graber, who questioned her choice to race with a torn ACL.
“I’m sorry Greg but this is a very odd opinion piece,” she wrote on X. “The pain and suffering is the point? I’m searching for meaning? Why am I taking risks ‘at my age?’ This ageism stuff is getting really old.”
She added, “My life does not revolve around ski racing. I am a woman that loves to ski. I don’t have an identity issue; I know exactly who I am. I was retired for six years and I have an amazing life. I don’t need to ski, but I love to ski. I came all this way for one final Olympics and I’m going to go and do my best, ACL or no. It’s as simple as that. And respectfully, if you don’t know the story, it might be best not to make assumptions.”
On February 3, Vonn disclosed her complete ACL tear but remained resolute about her Olympic comeback after announcing her return to skiing in November 2024.
“Well… I completely tore my ACL last Friday,” she shared on Instagram. “I also sustained a bone bruise (which is common with an ACL tear), plus meniscal tears, but it’s unclear how much of that was pre-existing and what was new from the crash. This was obviously incredibly hard news to receive one week before the Olympics. I really appreciate everyone giving me time and space to process what happened and find a way forward.”
Vonn continued, “After extensive consultations with doctors, intense therapy, physical tests as well as skiing today, I have determined I am capable of competing in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday. Of course, I will still need to do one training run, as is required to race on Sunday, but… I am confident in my body’s ability to perform. Despite my injuries, my knee is stable; I do not have swelling and my muscles are firing and reacting as they should. I will obviously be continuing to evaluate with my medical team daily to ensure we are making smart decisions but I have every intention of competing on Sunday.”
