Lindsey Vonn Airlifted After Crash at World Cup Race

American Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn was airlifted on Friday following a fall during the final run of a World Cup race in Switzerland. With just a week left until the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, her condition raises concerns.

“This is a very difficult result one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I can do, it’s to make a comeback,” the 41-year-old athlete shared on social media shortly after her airlift for medical evaluations. “The Olympic dream is not over yet.”

Vonn lost her balance attempting to land a jump in the Crans-Montana mountains, getting tangled in safety netting before crashing to the ground.

After around five minutes of medical assistance, she managed to get up, albeit in pain, using her ski poles for support. Reluctantly, she navigated the rest of the slope, pausing multiple times to tend to her left knee.

She then entered a medical tent for evaluations before being airlifted in a harness.

“Lindsey Vonn has fallen during her downhill run at Crans-Montana and is currently being evaluated,” reported the U.S. Ski Team.

Vonn’s coach, Axel Lund Svindal, indicated that she was undergoing tests at the hospital.

“She’s feeling some pain, and we’re glad she’s getting checked out. The physical therapist assessed her, but there were a few uncertainties,” the coach stated.

Interestingly, two other skiers, Switzerland’s Prisca Neufer and Italy’s Nicole Delago, also crashed in the same conditions before Vonn’s turn. Competitors expressed concerns about visibility, with one saying it was challenging to see and noting the bumpy course conditions.

Due to Vonn’s crash, the race was eventually canceled.

Last fall, Vonn had commented on the Crans-Montana course’s challenging weather, which had led to prior crashes. She had mentioned the possibility of skipping the event if it weren’t for the points at stake. Despite this, she led the downhill standings and finished sixth overall.

“We’ll approach the World Cup strategically, especially in Crans-Montana,” Vonn stated at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Media Summit last October. “It has been tough due to the weather, snow conditions, and injuries, which is my main concern regarding Crans-Montana.”

Vonn had initially retired in 2019 due to the intense physical demands of skiing and numerous injuries. After undergoing partial right knee replacement surgery in April 2024 for a more pain-free life, she returned to the World Cup circuit in December 2024. Since then, she’s won two downhill races and consistently landed on the podium in every downhill competition.

Her first Olympic event is set for the women’s downhill on February 8. Additionally, she’s scheduled for the super-G and new team events.