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Lindsey Vonn’s daring return to Olympic competition turned terrifying in Cortina d’Ampezzo when a downhill run ended almost instantly in disaster. Just seconds after leaving the start gate, the ski legend crashed violently, halting a comeback that had already defied medical reality and personal grief on the world’s biggest stage.
Lindsey Vonn’s Risky Return Turns Harrowing
The 41-year-old icon barely made it 13 seconds into the women’s downhill final before catching a marker, twisting midair, and slamming hard into the snow. The crowd fell silent as she tumbled and skidded down the course. She remained on the slope while medical teams rushed in.
As cameras lingered, Vonn’s pain was unmistakable. She could be heard crying out, “Oh my God,” while spectators, including celebrities in attendance, watched in shock. After more than 15 minutes of treatment, she was secured to a stability board and airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Innsbruck.
The crash came just one week after Vonn revealed she had “completely ruptured” her ACL during a World Cup race, an injury that would have ended most careers instantly. Still, she chose to race, determined to chase one more Olympic moment.
The Personal History That Pulled Her Back to the Slopes
Days before the event, Vonn addressed her injury head-on. “It was painful initially after the crash,” she said at a Feb. 3 press conference. “I had a feeling it was bad, but I held out hope until I saw the MRI in front of me. But I have not cried, I have not deviated from my plan.”
That plan included competing in Cortina, a place layered with meaning for her. Smiling, she added, “I think this would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. The most dramatic, that’s for sure.”
Later, she admitted via PEOPLE, “Honestly, I don’t know if I would have done this if it wasn’t at Cortina,” explaining, “It’s where I got my first podium [placing third at the 2004 World Cup]. I also broke the women’s World Cup record there.”
The mountain also held family memories. “It’s one of the few races in my whole career that both of my parents were at,” she said. “So it’s a very special place for me.”
Even in the face of injury and heartbreak, Lindsey Vonn’s courage and connection to her history kept her pushing forward, determined to make this Olympic moment her own.
