Lindsey Vonn's Father Demands Ski Retirement After Olympic Leg Break
The father of American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has declared that her competitive career must end immediately following the horrific leg break she suffered during the Winter Olympics. Alan Kildow, a former skier himself who taught his daughter to race, stated unequivocally that there should be no more ski races for the 41-year-old icon.
A Devastating Crash Ends Olympic Comeback
Vonn's participation in the women's downhill event in Cortina was already considered miraculous, coming just over a week after she ruptured her left ACL in a training run crash before the Games. Despite this severe knee injury, she not only competed but finished third fastest in final practice.
The decision to race proved catastrophic. Mere seconds into her run, Vonn lost control after rounding the second corner and suffered a dramatic crash that resulted in a broken leg. She was immediately airlifted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery to stabilize her injured limb.
Family Support During Recovery
Kildow and the rest of Vonn's family—including her brother and two sisters—have been with her constantly at the hospital in Treviso, Italy, following her helicopter evacuation from the Cortina course. The hospital confirmed she underwent surgery on her left leg, with the U.S. Ski Team reporting she was in stable condition.
"She has somebody with her—or multiple people with her—at all times," Vonn's father emphasized. "We'll have people here as long as she's here." Kildow even slept in his daughter's hospital room overnight to provide support during her initial recovery phase.
Emotional Toll and Family Perspective
When asked about his daughter's emotional state, Kildow described Vonn as "a very strong individual" who understands physical pain and her current circumstances. "She's able to handle it. Better than I expected," he admitted. "She's a very, very strong person. And so I think she's handling it real well."
The family witnessed the crash from the finish area alongside other spectators. "First, the shock and the horror of the whole thing, seeing a crash like that," Kildow recalled of the traumatic moment. "It can be dramatic and traumatic. You're just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have."
A Legendary Career That Defied Expectations
Vonn's return to competitive skiing this season was itself remarkable. After nearly six years of retirement and partial titanium replacement surgery in her right knee, she won two downhills and reached the podium in seven of the eight World Cup races she completed this season—finishing fourth in the remaining event.
Her career achievements are staggering:
- 12 World Cup victories in Cortina alone
- Second on the all-time women's World Cup win list with 82 victories (behind teammate Mikaela Shiffrin's 108)
- Olympic gold medalist and multiple World Championship titles
The Final Chapter
Kildow made clear that Vonn will not be returning to the Olympics to support teammates or for any other purpose during her recovery. "No, she's not in that kind of situation," he stated. "She will be going home at an appropriate point in time."
The former Olympic champion now faces what her father believes should be the definitive end to her storied career. "She's 41 years old and this is the end of her career," Kildow declared. "There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it."
