Lindsey Vonn Injured in World Cup Race Ahead of Olympics

American skiing star Lindsey Vonn faced a serious setback during the World Cup race in Switzerland on Friday. In what was supposed to be a triumphant event, she crashed hard on her final run, raising concerns about her participation in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, which are just a week away.

The 40-year-old, who made a remarkable comeback last season after being away from competitive skiing for nearly six years, seemed to lose control while landing a jump. The incident occurred at Crans-Montana, and as she fell, she clutched her left knee in visible pain, making her way to a medical tent before being airlifted from the scene.

The U.S. Ski Team confirmed the incident, stating, “Lindsey Vonn fell downhill at Crans-Montana and is being evaluated.” Urs Lehmann, the CEO of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, mentioned that while she appeared to have injured her knee, he refrained from speculating on the severity or potential impact on her Olympic aspirations.

Vonn’s coach, Axel Lund Svindal, noted that she was undergoing tests at a hospital. He expressed concern, saying, “She’s in a little bit of pain so she should get some tests done. The physiotherapist assessed her and indicated that things seemed okay, but there were still uncertainties. So, I’m relieved they took her for further evaluation.”

The race had previously seen other competitors crash, highlighting what was described as a difficult course. Austrian skier Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Momsen both fell before Vonn’s mishap. French skier Romane Miradori commented on the challenging conditions, noting that the course was “bumpy everywhere.”

Lindsey is now set to make her Olympic return on February 8 in the women’s downhill event. She’s also expected to compete in the super-G and the new team combined events. Nevertheless, her recent injury raises many questions about how she will perform.