What caused Lindsey Vonn's crash during the Olympic downhill?

Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air, or clipped a race gate and lost balance, leading to a hard fall on the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre snow.

What was Lindsey Vonn's injury prior to the Olympic crash?

Vonn tore her left ACL in a training accident in Switzerland on January 30, along with a bone bruise and meniscus damage, and was airlifted after that incident.

How was Vonn treated immediately after the crash?

Medical personnel attended to her on the snow for about 15 minutes, after which she was strapped to a gurney and airlifted by helicopter to a hospital for further evaluation.

What is the current status of Vonn's condition?

Vonn is being evaluated by medical staff at the hospital, with her family planning to meet her there; an official medical update is expected from organizers.

Where and when did the crash occur?

The crash occurred early in the women's downhill race at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on February 8, 2026.

3 sources

•

16d ago

Lindsey Vonn Crashes During Milano Cortina Downhill

Vonn crashed after tearing her left ACL on Jan. 30 but still attempted to compete at the Milano Cortina Games.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Lindsey Vonn crashed during the women's downhill at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 8, ending her run, according to live event reports.

The crash follows Vonn's Jan. 30 training accident in which she tore her left ACL and was airlifted, an injury she acknowledged in a social media post saying she planned to compete despite diminished chances.

Milano Cortina organizers said on Feb. 8 that on-site medical teams assessed Vonn and that officials would release an official medical update after further evaluation.

The Games opened Feb. 6 and run through Feb. 22 with 116 medal events across 16 disciplines and Team USA fielding 232 athletes, records show.

Olympic officials said alpine schedules remain set and that medical reviews and any appeals related to downhill results could be filed within the competition window ending Feb. 22, according to the official schedule.

Written using shared reports from

3 sources

Report issue

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources present this schedule neutrally: they focus on factual details (event times, venues, TV windows) and practical guidance for U.S. viewers. Coverage uses little evaluative language, quotes or omitted viewpoints; examples include straightforward listing of Lindsey Vonn's downhill, ceremony performers (Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli) and NBC/Peacock viewing info.

How we categorize media bias

Sources (3)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Sort By

7 things to know about the 2026 Winter Olympics

PBS NewsHour•17d ago

See the 2026 Winter Olympics schedule for today's events and beyond

CBS News•16d ago

Winter Olympics 2026: Vonn crashes out, Johnson wins downhill gold, snowboarding and more – live

The Guardian•16d ago

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

: Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air, or clipped a race gate and lost balance, leading to a hard fall on the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre snow.
Sources:
ESPN
: Vonn tore her left ACL in a training accident in Switzerland on January 30, along with a bone bruise and meniscus damage, and was airlifted after that incident.
Sources:
ESPN
: Medical personnel attended to her on the snow for about 15 minutes, after which she was strapped to a gurney and airlifted by helicopter to a hospital for further evaluation.
Sources:
NBC Olympics
: Vonn is being evaluated by medical staff at the hospital, with her family planning to meet her there; an official medical update is expected from organizers.
Sources:
ESPN
: The crash occurred early in the women's downhill race at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on February 8, 2026.
Sources:
NBC Olympics

History

See how this story has evolved over time.

This story does not have any previous versions.