Lindsey Vonn airlifted from course after crash in final downhill before Olympics

[groundloop]

Source: The Guardian

Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the final World Cup downhill before the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, leaving the American skiing great limping and clutching her left knee as organizers abandoned the race amid worsening conditions.

The 41-year-old lost control after landing a jump on the upper section of the course in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, skidding sideways into the safety netting as snow fell steadily and visibility deteriorated. Vonn’s airbag deployed on impact and she remained down for several moments while medical staff attended to her on the piste.

Vonn eventually stood and was able to ski away, but did so gingerly. She repeatedly took weight off her left leg, using her poles to steady herself, and stopped several times on the run down to check her knee. At the finish area she was met by her teammate Jacqueline Wiles, with the two sharing a long embrace before Vonn limped into a medical tent for further evaluation. She was later airlifted from the finish area by helicopter, suspended by a rope as she was transported away across the Swiss Alps.

[....]

Race officials cancelled the downhill shortly after Vonn’s crash, with three of the first six skiers having fallen in difficult conditions on a course that had already been shortened because of the weather. Austria’s Nina Ortlieb crashed in the same upper section as Vonn but was able to ski away, while Norway’s Marte Monsen hit the nets near the bottom of the course and was taken away on a stretcher with facial injuries.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/30/lindsey-vonn-crash-final-downhill-milan-cortina-olympics

[underpants]

1. Ooh not good

[Lovie777]

2. Hope she's ok..............

is the winter Olympic going to be televised?

[maxsolomon]

4. Welp, too soon to know. She skied down to the finish.

Last edited Fri Jan 30, 2026, 04:39 PM - Edit history (1)

Are you seriously asking if the Olympics will be televised?

[Rebl2]

7. On NBC as usual

I think also on Peacock and maybe USA, but not sure about that last one.

[Brother Buzz]

3. Vonn's airbag deployed on impact and she remained down for several moments

What the heck is this airbag?

[Miguelito Loveless]

5. For skiing and avalanches

https://newtoski.com/how-avalanche-airbags-work/

[Bayard]

8. Interesting

Looks like a big backpack. Doesn't look like it would do much for running into a tree face first.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. No, you are kind expected

not to Sonny Bono it, but is can save your life, or avoid serious injury in non-stupid crashes.

[maxsolomon]

9. It's much smaller than Avy airbags

and goes under the speed suit. basically, just at your torso - protects shoulders, chest.

knees are still vulnerable.

[Brother Buzz]

10. Thanks. How is it deployed?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Since she made it to the finish and a medical tent, it seems strange to airlift her via a rope

You'd think they'd have motorised ground transport there, and it couldn't have been that urgent - she said on Instagram "My Olympic dream is not over". Dangling below a helicopter in the middle of bad winter weather must be damn cold.

[FakeNoose]

11. Poor Lindsey! Totally unsafe conditions - not fair at all!