Legendary American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn has provided her most recent update following a devastating crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics downhill in Milano Cortina — and while the injury was serious, officials now say she “will be okay” after emergency surgery, even as the brutal nature of elite ski racing is underscored by those closest to the sport. (LADbible)
Vonn’s crash occurred just seconds into the women’s downhill event when her ski pole clipped a gate, sending her tumbling off balance and down the slope. She was immediately airlifted to a hospital in Treviso, Italy, where surgeons stabilized a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries.
In new comments shared by U.S. Ski & Snowboard officials, Anouk Patty, chief of sport, said Vonn remains in stable condition and “will be okay, but it’s going to be a process.” “This sport’s brutal,” Patty added, noting the extreme risks athletes take when pushing themselves down a mountain at high speed.
From the very beginning of her comeback at age 41 — racing despite recently rupturing her ACL — Vonn’s determination to compete in her final Olympic downhill had inspired both admiration and concern. In her own social media statement after the crash, she reflected on the emotional significance of the moment, writing: “Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would … While it didn’t end the way I had hoped … I have no regrets.” She emphasized that the injury happened when her arm clipped the gate on her racing line, and that her prior injuries “had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”
Vonn’s message went on to frame the experience as part of life’s risks: “In downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches… I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.”
Teammates, rivals, and officials have rallied around the Olympic great, praising her courage and resilience in the face of extraordinary adversity. Though questions about her competitive future remain, the latest confirmation that she will be okay brings relief to fans around the world who have followed her storied career.
Stay tuned for further updates on her recovery and future plans.
