Lindsey Vonn’s goal for her fourth Olympic downhill medal ended with a crash that left her with a broken leg and the world in shock.
Just after starting her run in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, she lost control of her skis and, after clipping a gate, tumbled down the slope, screaming in pain as she came to a stop.
Medical experts assisted her on the course before she was airlifted to a hospital in front of the entire world.
Doctors later confirmed that Vonn had suffered serious injuries, including a fracture in her left leg, requiring emergency surgery later that day. First taken to a nearby clinic in Cortina, she was then transferred to Ca’ Foncello hospital in Treviso, two hours away. Orthopedic surgeons worked to stabilize her injuries.
Officials said she was in stable condition after her operation, saying the crash was a “tragic” and “heartbreaking” shock for them all.
Despite the severity of the accident, teammates and officials say that Vonn “will be okay” and should make a full recovery. Her teammates said she was both a mentor and a fighter who demonstrated the determination of her team.
Several days after the crash, Vonn publicly posted through her social media accounts, revealing that one of her injuries was a “complex tibia fracture.” She also expressed her gratitude to her family, teammates, and fans, and said that she would “fight this like every other challenge” she had faced.
She also said that the crash was one of the most difficult moments of her life, and that she was grateful to be surrounded by family and friends.
For many people, her words changed a horrific moment in the Olympics into a reminder of what she was known for: not just winning races, but never giving up.
