Lindsey Vonn’s family issue update after devastating Olympic crash

What was meant to be a storybook finale for Lindsey Vonn turned into a devastating setback when events took a tragic twist on Sunday, February 8.

Despite tearing her ACL just days earlier, the 41-year-old American skiing icon bravely chose to compete, determined to cap her remarkable career with one last Olympic downhill performance.

Moments after leaving the старт gate, Vonn struck a gate and crashed heavily, sustaining a severe injury. Her cries echoed across the course as she slid to a halt, prompting immediate medical attention. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital and later underwent surgery for a broken leg.

Spectators in Cortina d’Ampezzo reacted with audible shock as the incident unfolded. Officials later reassured the public that her condition was stable following the operation.

The Olympic Games shared a supportive message, honoring her champion status, while Team USA emphasized that her legacy will forever remain part of the national team’s history.

Her sister, Karin Kildow, expressed the family’s fear, saying the crash happened so quickly that their only hope was that Lindsey would be okay. She described the frightening moment when stretchers appeared on the slope.

Vonn had come into the race already facing steep odds. After retiring in 2019 as the most decorated female alpine skier in history, she announced a comeback in 2024 with a titanium knee. Acknowledging her age, injury, and challenges beforehand, she insisted she would give everything she had — believing that, regardless of the result, she had already triumphed.