Need to know
Lindsey Vonn’s crash left Winter Olympics viewers stunned, particularly after she opted to compete in Milan and Cortina with a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Everything you need to know about Lindsey Vonn’s condition after the skiing legend suffered a crash at the Winter Olympics on Sunday…
- Remarkable comeback Lindsey Vonn made a historic return to professional alpine skiing at the age of 41, several years after her initial retirement. She rejoined the United States team following a successful partial knee replacement operation that had significantly reduced her chronic physical pain.
- Pre-Olympic injury setback Only nine days before the downhill final at the Milano Cortina Games, the athlete suffered a complete rupture of the ACL in her left knee. Despite this devastating injury, she remained determined to compete and successfully completed her training runs whilst wearing a protective brace.
- Huge crash Vonn’s aspirations for an Olympic medal ended in disaster when she suffered a high-speed fall just thirteen seconds into her downhill run. She clipped a plastic gate marker and somersaulted across the course, leaving the spectators in an eerie silence.
- Distressing immediate aftermath The skiing legend could be heard screaming in agony as she lay motionless on the snow for several minutes after the impact. Medical personnel rushed to the scene to provide emergency treatment on the piste before preparing her for an urgent evacuation.
- Emergency medical evacuation Due to the severity of the accident, Vonn had to be airlifted from the mountain by a rescue helicopter. This caused a twenty-minute delay to the competition whilst she was carefully placed into a medical bag and transported to a nearby hospital.
- Current medical condition Team USA released an official statement confirming that the skier is in a stable condition whilst undergoing further medical assessments. She was being cared for by a combined team of American and Italian physicians at a facility in Cortina, before being transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso and undergoing surgery to “stabilise a fracture in her left leg”.
- Sister’s reassuring update Her sister, Karin Kildow, spoke to the media to confirm that Lindsey is in the best possible hands. She revealed that Vonn’s personal surgeon was present at the event and travelled with her in the helicopter to ensure immediate specialist care.
- Calculated risks and sesilience Karin Kildow explained that her sister was fully aware of the physical risks involved in racing with a ruptured ligament. She noted that Lindsey “dared greatly” and was simply pushing her limits in pursuit of a fairytale conclusion to her career.
- Emotional media reaction The incident caused significant distress amongst the broadcasting team, with BBC commentator Chemmy Alcott breaking down in tears during the live coverage. Many viewers and colleagues expressed their heartbreak that such an iconic career could be interrupted by another traumatic accident.
- Enduring career legacy Before this latest incident, Vonn had already secured three Olympic medals and eighty-two World Cup victories throughout her illustrious career. Her attempt to become the oldest alpine skier to win an Olympic medal has been widely praised as a testament to her extraordinary tenacity.
