Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic comeback fades after tragedy.
The excitement ends in a devastating crash on descent and an airlift evacuation while skying.
Olympic ski legend Lindsey Vonn’s long-awaited return to the Winter Games came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday, February 8, when the 41-year-old crashed early in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Racing on a seriously injured knee after tearing her ACL just days earlier, Vonn lost control within seconds of leaving the starting gate and was evacuated from the ramp by helicopter for medical evaluation, cutting short one of the most compelling comeback stories of these Games.
Vonn’s attempt to add another Olympic medal to her storied career had attracted worldwide attention after she announced she would compete despite a complete tear of the left cruciate ligament suffered in a training crash in Switzerland just a week before the Games.
The American, who has won multiple Olympic medals and is one of the most decorated female alpine skiers in history, clipped a fence shortly after the start of the downhill final, sending her tumbling off course in a violent fall that left the crowd stunned into silence.
Medical staff tended to Vonn in the snow before she was carefully loaded into a rescue helicopter and flown for further care — the second time in nine days she has required air evacuation following crashes related to her comeback attempt.
Additionally, the dramatic crash occurred shortly after Team USA teammate Breezy Johnson won the women’s downhill gold, becoming only the second American woman to ever claim the Olympic title in the event. Despite the somber turn for Vonn, Johnson later expressed her concern and support for her veteran teammate, highlighting the emotional intensity of the moment for the U.S. team.
Fans and fellow athletes also responded with an outpouring of support on social media and at the venue, mourning the abrupt end to Vonn’s comeback while praising her courage in taking on such a monumental challenge. While discussions about her future in the sport continue, Vonn’s willingness to compete under such difficult circumstances has already left a lasting impression on this year’s Olympic story.
She was immediately airlifted for medical attention and her condition was then believed to be stable.
