Oh no, no, no. That is completely not the headline anybody wished to learn popping out of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lindsey Vonnthe enduring, fearless, comeback-queen of American snowboarding, was brutally injured in the course of the ladies’s downhill remaining and needed to be airlifted off the mountain after a horrifying crash that left followers and fellow athletes utterly shaken.
The crash occurred simply 13 seconds into her run, which one way or the other makes it much more gut-wrenching. Vonn’s proper ski pole reportedly bought caught in a course marker, throwing her utterly off stability at excessive velocity. What adopted was the type of nightmare tumble no athlete ever needs to expertise, with Lindsey being launched via the air a number of instances earlier than slamming again down onto the mountain.
If that wasn’t upsetting sufficient, microphones picked up Vonn yelling “Oh my God” in ache as medical personnel rushed to her aspect. She was rigorously positioned on a stretcher whereas the group watched in shocked silence, after which she was airlifted off the course.
You’ll be able to see the video of that second (beneath):
???? BREAKING: U.S. snowboarding legend Lindsey Vonn has crashed throughout competitors on the Winter Olympics and was medevac’d by helicopter from the course.
Wishing her a full restoration — sending power and assist to Group USA. pic.twitter.com/IJIQPpX87j
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) February 8, 2026
Based on the US Ski and Snowboard Groupthe 41-year-old famous person is fortunately in secure situation.
The group confirmed the replace in a press release shared to X (Twitter) on Sunday:
“Lindsey Vonn sustained an harm, however is in secure situation and in good arms with a group of American and Italian physicians.”
Watching from the stands was Lindsey’s sister, Karin Kildowwho spoke throughout NBC’s broadcast and summed up precisely what everybody at residence was feeling:
“That positively was the very last thing we wished to see. It occurred fast. So when that occurs you’re simply instantly hoping she’s okay. It was scary as a result of whenever you begin to see the stretchers being put out, that’s not a superb signal.”
What makes this much more intense is that Vonn already went into this race figuring out the dangers. Only one week earlier, she had torn her ACL and nonetheless made the choice to compete in what she’s mentioned could be her remaining Olympics.
Kildow acknowledged that actuality with heartbreaking honesty:
“I do know she put her complete coronary heart into it and generally, simply, like, issues occur. It’s a really harmful sport. And there are numerous variables at play. I don’t actually know precisely what occurred. It did seem like a reasonably tough fall. We’re simply hoping for the perfect.”
Ugh. That is horrible. Lindsey Vonn has at all times been the definition of grit and braveness, however proper now none of that issues greater than her well being.
We’re genuinely wishing her the perfect and hoping for a easy restoration after such a scary Olympics second.
(Picture by way of NBC Sports activities/YouTube)