Lindsey Vonn's Coach Noticed Knee Compensation Before Devastating Olympic Crash
New information has surfaced regarding the catastrophic crash that ended Lindsey Vonn's Olympic career, with reports indicating her coach had observed concerning compensation patterns in the days leading up to the incident. The 41-year-old American skiing legend, already competing with ruptured ligaments in her left knee, suffered a complex broken leg that will require multiple surgeries after striking a gate just thirteen seconds into her downhill run in Cortina.
Coach's Critical Observation Before the Fateful Run
According to a detailed report in Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Norwegian ski legend and two-time Olympic gold medallist Aksel Lund Svindal, who had been coaching Vonn since 2025, remarked after a training session last week that she was leaning more heavily on her right knee during landings. This compensation strategy was apparently an attempt to ease strain on her injured left knee, creating a dangerous imbalance that may have contributed to the eventual crash.
The veteran athlete sped over a hill before careering into one of the plastic markers lining the course during her Olympic final run. Her right leg appeared to hit the ground first as a cloud of powder engulfed the American skier. Vonn then tumbled forwards again, seemingly slamming her shoulder into the snow before coming to a halt on the slope.
Medical Professionals Question Racing Decision
Wouter Van den Broecke, medical supervisor for the International Ski Federation at the Winter Games, provided concerning commentary in the same Belgian publication. "I spoke with the Italian team doctor," Van den Broecke wrote. "The descent on Sunday was very challenging, he told me, bordering on too difficult, especially because the snow conditions weren't great."
Van den Broecke, who firmly believes the decision to green-light her race went against medical professionalism, added: "This crash was an accident waiting to happen. On the one hand, there's the world star, a fantastic woman who, at 41, is trying to return to the Olympics after countless sacrifices. On the other hand, this is a particularly bad example for young people when it comes to health and safety."
Vonn's Public Response and Injury Details
Lindsey Vonn spoke publicly for the first time since her crash on Monday, insisting the accident was not caused by the ruptured knee ligaments she suffered in the same left leg nine days earlier. Posting on Instagram, the American star provided her perspective on what transpired during that fateful run.
"Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would," Vonn wrote. "It wasn't a story book ending or a fairy tale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches."
The skiing champion continued: "I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever. Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly."
Race Aftermath and Team Support
Following the horrific crash, organisers began playing background music to drown out Vonn's cries as she was lifted onto a stretcher and airlifted off the mountain. The Cortina crowd had been stunned into complete silence, and the downhill event was temporarily suspended. Other competitors removed their skis at the top of the slope as they waited for Vonn to be evacuated from the course.
Vonn's American team-mate Breezy Johnson, aged 30, ultimately won the downhill race, securing gold for the USA ahead of Germany's Emma Aicher, who is 22. On Monday afternoon, coach Aksel Lund Svindal posted on social media with words of support for his athlete.
"Lindsey. You are incredibly brave," Svindal wrote. "You inspire the people who follow your journey and us who work closely with you every day. Yesterday was a tough day on the mountain. For everyone, but especially for you."
The coach revealed a telling moment: "Nevertheless, something happened that I think says it all. 'Congratulate Breezy and tell her she did a great job.' Your teammate was in the lead, and that was the message you wanted to convey to the US ski team coaches before being flown to the hospital. True character is revealed in difficult moments."
Teammates Defend Vonn's Decision to Compete
Vonn's American team-mate Keely Cashman addressed critics who questioned the skier's decision to compete with existing injuries. "People that don't know ski racing don't really understand what happened yesterday," downhill skier Cashman said on Monday. "She hooked her arm on the gate, which twisted her around. She was going probably 70mph, and so that twists your body around."
Italy's two-time world champion Federica Brignone also defended Vonn's choice, stating: "It's your body, then you decide what to do, whether to race or not. It's not up to others. Only you."
The incident has sparked broader conversations about athlete safety, medical clearance protocols, and the difficult decisions elite competitors face when balancing Olympic dreams against physical limitations. As Lindsey Vonn faces multiple surgeries and a challenging recovery ahead, the skiing community continues to process the dramatic conclusion to her Olympic career.
