Top Headlines

Feeds

Lindsey Vonn Crashes in Pre‑Olympic Downhill, Knee Injury Threatens Olympic Start

Updated (15 articles)
  • Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: (Alessandro Della Valle/Keystone via AP)) Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week Source Full size
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: (Alessandro Della Valle/Keystone via AP)) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Source Full size

Crash Occurs on Swiss Course Amid Poor Visibility Lindsey Vonn lost control on a jump at the World Cup downhill in Crans‑Montana, Switzerland, tangled in the safety netting and suffered a left‑knee injury on Jan. 30, 2026. She skied slowly to the finish line before medics air‑lifted her to a hospital for evaluation. The incident was the third crash that morning; low visibility and snowfall prompted officials to cancel the remainder of the race[1][6].

Vonn Announces Determination on Instagram Within hours, Vonn posted a photo of her injured knee, stating she was consulting doctors and that “my Olympic dream is not over.” She emphasized her history of comebacks and expressed confidence she can recover in time for the Games starting Feb. 6[2][4]. Her message highlighted both the physical setback and her mental resolve to return.

Season Success Built on Titanium‑Implanted Knee After a six‑year hiatus, Vonn returned at age 40 racing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee and has dominated the current season, winning two downhill races and reaching the podium in seven of eight World Cup events[3][5]. Her comeback includes a historic win at St Moritz in Dec. 2025, making her the oldest downhill victor on the circuit. The injury raises questions about her ability to compete so soon after previous surgeries.

Olympic Participation Hinges on Medical Clearance Vonn is slated to start the women’s downhill on Feb. 8 at Milan‑Cortina, with plans to race the super‑G and the new team combined event[1][7]. International Ski and Snowboard Federation chief Urs Lehmann said the final decision will depend on doctors’ assessments of her knee injury[1][5]. Until those evaluations are completed, her presence at the Games remains uncertain.

Sources

Timeline

Feb 2010 – Lindsey Vonn wins the Olympic downhill gold in Vancouver, establishing herself as a premier speed skier and later becoming the most decorated American female alpine athlete [13].

2019 – Vonn retires after a career that includes 82 World Cup wins and three Olympic medals, citing her body’s inability to endure the physical toll of elite competition [13][15].

2024 – Vonn undergoes a partial knee replacement, receiving titanium implants that later allow her to race pain‑free and spark her decision to return to the World Cup circuit [13][15].

Late 2024 – Vonn stages a comeback, entering the 2025 season after a six‑year hiatus and competing with a titanium knee implant, quickly becoming a podium contender [1][5].

Dec 12, 2025 – Vonn secures a 1.16‑second lead in the St. Moritz World Cup downhill, hitting 119 kph and extending her season‑long lead while targeting a gold medal in Milan‑Cortina [7].

Dec 13, 2025 – Vonn finishes second a day after her historic win, posting a 0.24‑second gap to Emma Aicher and noting a brief slip after a mid‑run jump, yet confirming her speed remains elite [6].

Dec 15, 2025 – Vonn wins the opening downhill in St. Moritz by 0.98 seconds, becoming the oldest World Cup downhill winner in history and adding 230 points to her season total, prompting her to reconsider retirement [5].

Dec 23, 2025 – Vonn officially qualifies for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, securing one of four U.S. downhill spots and leading the World Cup downhill standings with four podiums in five races [10][15].

Dec 2025 – Breezy Johnson reveals a severe back injury she describes as “the worst pain of my life,” yet she vows to compete alongside veterans Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn at Cortina [3].

Jan 21, 2026 – Johnson returns to Cortina for Olympic redemption, explaining she must “rein it in” on the steep hill, overcome fear, and follow a pre‑planned line after multiple knee reconstructions and a recent back injury [3].

Jan 29, 2026 – Vonn confirms she will race the women’s downhill at the 2026 Olympics, emphasizing that her age is an advantage and that she aims to finish the race on her own terms as a tribute to her late mother [13].

Jan 30, 2026 – Vonn crashes on a jump in the Crans‑Montana World Cup downhill, tangles in safety netting, injures her left knee, is airlifted for evaluation, and sees the race cancelled amid low visibility; she posts on Instagram, “My Olympic dream is not over,” and declares she will pursue a comeback pending doctors’ clearance [1][9][11].

Feb 5, 2026 – Training runs for the Milan‑Cortina Games begin, giving athletes a final opportunity to fine‑tune their lines before the opening ceremony a day later [2].

Feb 6, 2026 – The 2026 Winter Olympics open in Milan, marking the start of a two‑week alpine program in Cortina d’Ampezzo [1][2].

Feb 8, 2026 – The women’s downhill takes place in Cortina; Vonn is slated to start, hoping to compete despite her recent injury, while the U.S. team also targets the super‑G and the new two‑person team‑combined event later in the Games [2][4].

Feb 2026 – The Olympic super‑G and team‑combined events follow the downhill, completing the alpine schedule and offering Vonn additional medal opportunities if cleared by medical staff [2][4].

Social media (2 posts)

Dive deeper (9 sub-stories)

All related articles (15 articles)

External resources (6 links)