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Vonn's Olympic dream cut short by crash
American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn's final Olympic downhill race ended in dramatic fashion after a crash on the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina. The 41-year-old, competing just nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee, lost control after hitting a gate on her first jump and was airlifted off the piste.
Johnson delivers emotional gold for Team USA
While Vonn's Olympic journey came to a premature close, teammate Breezy Johnson secured an unexpected gold medal with a time of 1 minute 36.10 seconds. The 30-year-old world champion was visibly emotional as she watched Vonn's crash unfold on the big screen before her own victory was confirmed.
"I never believed it would end this way," said four-time British Olympian Chemmy Alcott during BBC coverage. "What we saw is brutal even for a fit athlete. Think about her family, her team, and herself."
The high-risk decision
Vonn's participation had been in doubt after suffering an ACL injury in Switzerland during the last World Cup race before the Games. Despite the significant risk, she was determined to compete in her favored downhill event. Her coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, had expressed confidence in her ability to deliver a spectacular performance just days earlier.
Spectators at the iconic Cortina course, where Vonn had previously won 12 of her 84 World Cup victories, applauded as she was airlifted from the piste. The crash likely ends her Olympic career, as she was also scheduled to compete in the super-G and team events.
A career of comebacks
No stranger to adversity, Vonn retired in 2019 as the most decorated female skier at the time but made a surprising return in 2024 following a partial knee replacement. She had been tipped for the podium in Cortina after a strong 2025-26 season, where she reached the podium in all five races, winning two.
Vonn had shown defiance earlier in the week, responding to a doctor on social media who claimed her injury was "not a fresh tear." She stated her ACL was "100% torn" but remained hopeful of defying the odds, aiming to replicate her 2010 Olympic downhill gold from Vancouver.
Race day drama
The crash appeared to unsettle the field. Andorra's Cande Moreno was also airlifted off the piste after crashing into a gate. Germany's Emma Aicher took silver, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind Johnson, while Italy's Sofia Goggia secured bronze on home snow.
Chemmy Alcott noted that the delay caused by Vonn's crash likely affected later racers, as the midday sun began to melt the snow on the piste. Johnson, who had completed her run sixth while Vonn was 13th to go, ultimately benefited from the conditions.
Uncertain future
Vonn's latest crash raises significant doubts about her future in competitive skiing. While she had targeted the downhill as her final Olympic event, the severity of her injuries may force her to reconsider her plans to continue racing.
