Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Monday, 09 February 2026, 18:16 / Updated on Monday, 09 February 2026 18:17
Lindsey Vonn (41), the skier originally from the United States of America, sent the first public message on social networks after a day ago he suffered a terrible injuryleg fracture, during the Cortina downhill event at the Winter Olympics.
Vonn started 13th in the Cortina downhill, but crashed just seconds after the start. The Olympic descent was immediately interrupted, and the American woman remained on the snow for several minutes, immediately receiving medical attention.
Shortly after, she was taken by helicopter from the slope and rushed to the hospital. A few days before the start of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, Lindsey Vonn had suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.
Lindsey Vonn, the first reaction after the terrible injury suffered at the Olympic Games
Sports commentator Dan Walker wished her a speedy recovery and praised the athlete's resilience again Linsdey Vonn replied to this: “Thanks, Dan!”.
The hospital in Italy where Vonn is hospitalized issued a statement on Sunday evening stating that the American suffered a broken leg following a “bad fall” during the women's downhill event in Cortina.
“Lindsey Vonn received care from the staff of the Regional Olympic Medical Service and was immediately airlifted to Codivilla Polyclinic, managed by the Local Health Authority.
Diagnostic tests were performed and it was decided to transfer her to Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso. The American athlete was hospitalized and taken over by a multidisciplinary team. He underwent orthopedic surgery this afternoon to stabilize the fracture in his left leg,” the medical institution added.
Vonn decided to compete at the Winter Olympics despite suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in a crash at a World Cup event in the Swiss Alps the week before.
The American, back from retirement to compete in the 2026 Olympics, had said she was confident she could finish the race despite the injury, with the help of a knee brace.
But just seconds from the start, Vonn lost control after hooking a flag marking the course, was thrown into the air and hit her head in the snow. Although she was conscious, she could not get up. Medical personnel placed her on a stretcher and airlifted her off the slope.
“It will be good, but it will be a long process. This sport is brutal and people need to remember when they watch that these athletes are throwing themselves down a mountain at a very, very high speedAnouk Patty, head of the US Ski and Snowboard sports department, said on Sunday.
