On Feb. 8, 2026, during the Milano Cortina Olympics, three time Olympic medalist, Lindsey Vonn, crashed in her downhill skiing race. Vonn made a mid-air collision as she got caught on one of the gates. Once she made contact with the ground, Vonn was lying on the slope with both of her skis facing different directions.
Before entering the 2026 Olympics, in 2019, Vonn announced her retirement and prioritized her time with her family and recovering from her Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in 2006. However, before the Olympics started, she announced that she was coming back for her final race and would represent the United States.
In 2006, Vonn suffered from severe injuries when she crashed and bruised her back bone, pelvis and hips. In response to her crash, she was airlifted out of the Toronto Olympics and to the nearest hospital. Although Vonn had recovered from her almost deadly experience, she still remained cautious while skiing at high speeds. However, while skiing at 70 miles per hour (mph) through the gates and alongside the sides of the slope, Vonn hooked her right arm around one of the flags and lost balance. While falling down the hill, she broke bones in both of her legs and was airlifted off the mountain.
When Vonn first arrived at the hospital in the 2026 Olympics, her injuries appeared to be severe, but not permanent. However, on Feb. 23, 2026, she shared to her social media page that her injuries are far more extensive than she had initially thought. Although setback has been something she’s dealt with before, Vonn still expressed shock regarding the situation.
Since her accident, many other Olympians have commented on her social media posts with their concern for her situation. One teammate, Breezy Johnson, praised Vonn for her strength despite the unfortunate circumstances. Their strong relationship led to Vonn telling the paramedics to wait so she could wish Johnson good luck before her race.
“Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would… but I have no regrets,” Vonn said.
Although her dreams of winning another medal came to a stop, she still is continuing to share how grateful she is to have had the opportunity to compete in the first place. The 41-year-old dedicated her life’s work to her love of skiing. Even though her race ended, Vonn shares that her dream still has not.
