Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic Comeback in Jeopardy After World Cup Crash
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn’s highly anticipated comeback may be in jeopardy after a crash during her final World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The 41-year-old ski legend lost control landing a jump and became entangled in safety nets, visibly favoring her left knee as she gingerly skied to the finish line. The race was canceled due to poor visibility following Vonn’s accident, and she was airlifted by helicopter for further medical evaluation, leaving her Olympic participation uncertain.
“I know she hurt her knee, I talked to her,” said International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann. “I don’t know if it’s really heavy and [if] she won’t miss the Olympics.”
Vonn’s return from retirement has been a major storyline for the U.S. Olympic team, with her potential absence impacting Olympic coverage by network broadcasters who had featured her comeback prominently in promotional coverage. Vonn initially retired in 2019 due to persistent knee injuries but announced her return in 2024 after undergoing a partial knee replacement to extend her career. She ranks second all-time in World Cup victories with 84 wins, trailing only fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin’s record of 108.
“This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics…but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback,” Vonn wrote on Instagram.
Vonn has an impressive Olympic record, winning gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at the 2010 Vancouver Games, as well as another bronze at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games. She also boasts four overall World Cup titles and eight world championship medals in her decorated career.
The 2026 Milan Cortina Games are set to run through Feb. 22, with Vonn’s participation hanging in the balance as she awaits further medical assessment. Fans and fellow athletes are hopeful that the skiing legend will be able to overcome this setback and make a triumphant return to the slopes.
