LINDSEY VONN SUFFERS COMPLEX LEG BREAK IN OLYMPIC CRASH — Quick Facts
Lindsey Vonn's Olympic comeback ended catastrophically when she crashed 13.4 seconds into the downhill final at Cortina, suffering a complex tibia fracture requiring multiple surgeries. The 41-year-old was competing on a completely ruptured ACL from just nine days earlier, making her attempt to race one of the most audacious in Olympic history.
Key Data Points
- Vonn's crash occurred on the same leg where she had ruptured her ACL just nine days earlier in Crans-Montana, Switzerland
- The 41-year-old required immediate orthopedic surgery at Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso and will need multiple additional procedures
- Johnson's victory came four years after she was forced to miss Beijing 2022 due to a knee injury sustained on the same Cortina course
Frequently Asked
- What exactly happened in Lindsey Vonn's Olympic crash?
- Vonn crashed 13.4 seconds into her downhill run when her right arm clipped a gate, causing her to lose balance and crash violently. She suffered a complex tibia fracture in her left leg and was airlifted to Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso for emergency surgery.
- Why was Lindsey Vonn competing with a torn ACL?
- Vonn had completely ruptured her ACL just nine days before the Olympics during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on January 30, 2026. She chose to compete anyway, stating she had "zero percent" ACL integrity but believed her muscle strength could compensate.
- Who won the women's Olympic downhill after Vonn's crash?
- Breezy Johnson of Team USA won gold with a time of 1:36.10, becoming only the second American woman to win Olympic downhill gold since Vonn in 2010. Germany's Emma Aicher took silver and Italy's Sofia Goggia won bronze.
- How many surgeries will Lindsey Vonn need after her Olympic crash?
- Vonn has already undergone multiple operations and stated she will require several more surgeries to properly repair her complex tibia fracture. She had initial stabilization surgery at Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso, Italy immediately after the crash.
- Will Lindsey Vonn return to competitive skiing after this injury?
- Medical experts and reports suggest this injury is expected to end Vonn's competitive career. At 41 years old with a complex tibia fracture requiring multiple surgeries, a return to elite-level downhill racing appears highly unlikely.