Vonn's Olympic dream ends in horror crash, multiple surgeries loom

Lindsey Vonn's Olympic career ended tragically on Sunday following a severe crash during the downhill final. The 41-year-old American athlete revealed she sustained a complex tibia fracture, an injury that will necessitate multiple surgeries. Vonn clarified that her accident, which saw her hook a gate and tumble, was not a result of previous knee ligament injuries. She expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to compete, stating, "Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget." The incident caused the downhill event to be suspended as medical crews attended to Vonn, who was later airlifted from the course. This injury adds another challenge to a career marked by resilience, including overcoming ACL and MCL tears in the past. Vonn became the oldest woman to compete in Olympic alpine skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.