Lindsey Vonn crashes in final race before Milano Cortina Olympics

Lindsey Vonn crashed during the final downhill before the Milano Cortina Olympics, appearing to injure her left knee one week before the Winter Games begin.

Vonn got off-balance coming out of a jump on the top part of the course in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on Friday, Jan. 30. She fought to regain her balance, but fell while going at high speed, spinning across the snow before crashing into the safety netting on the side of the course.

Vonn stayed on the hill for several minutes while safety crews rushed to her. She was able to get to her feet, but was clearly favoring her left knee as she used her poles to steady herself. Vonn bent her left knee a few times, giving small shakes of her head.

The opening ceremony is exactly a week away and the women’s downhill is two days later. The Olympics are in Cortina, one of Vonn’s favorite places, and she has said they were a motivator in her decision to come back after having a partial knee replacement in April 2024.

Vonn put her skis back on and resumed skiing, doing a few easy turns, but it was clear her left knee was hurting. As her team and her U.S. teammates looked on with concern, she slowly made her way down the hill. She slip-slid down the steepest part of the slope, before gently skiing down the bottom section of the course.

Vonn gave a small wave to the fans when she reached the finish line, but shook her head when fellow American Jackie Wiles approached her. She put her head in Wiles’ shoulder as the two hugged before Vonn went into the tent in the finish area.

Conditions were already poor before Vonn’s crash, with low visibility, and it was canceled soon after she got to the bottom of the fall. Including Vonn, three of the first six skiers did not finish the race.