Lindsey Vonn has confirmed she suffered a complex tibia fracture requiring multiple surgeries following a heavy crash during the women's downhill at the Olympics on Sunday. The American skier, who was airlifted to hospital, cried out in pain as spectators and fellow athletes watched on.
Vonn had been competing while dealing with a ruptured ACL suffered a week earlier. However, she insisted the crash was due to a technical error, not her injury. 'I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate,' she wrote on Instagram, adding she had 'no regrets' about racing.
Fellow skiers defended Vonn's decision to compete. US teammate Keely Cashman said the crash had 'nothing to do with her ACL', while Italy's Federica Brignone stated, 'It's her choice.' Downhill specialist Kyle Negomir added that Vonn is 'the best speed skier to ever do this sport' and should be allowed to take risks.
However, Vonn's father, Alan Kildow, expressed his belief that she should retire. 'She's 41 years old, and this is the end of her career,' he told the Associated Press. Vonn, who came out of a six-year retirement in 2025 after knee replacement surgery, had been enjoying a remarkable comeback with two World Cup victories before her injury.
