Photos appear to show how Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic crash happened
The American lost her footing in the initial stretch and ended up damaging her left knee, which was already badly injured ahead of the Games.
“Oh my God! I can’t, I can’t.” These were the first words out of Lindsey Vonn’s mouth after the dramatic accident she suffered this Sunday in the downhill of the Winter Games, while in the Olympia delle Tofane, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, there was a deathly silence in the face of the American’s tragedy.
The accident was foreseeable from the start. On one of the first turns of the Schuss, the initial section of this historic Dolomite track, she lost her footing and was unable to recover.
She ended up completely off balance and slid across the snow on her left knee, the very knee that had arrived at these Games badly injured after a fall last week in Switzerland that resulted in a torn left cruciate ligament. Her heart-wrenching cries and the helicopter evacuation marked the sad end to her legendary career.
Vonn will not return to the winter Olympics and her skiing career itself may well be over after the latest accident that has seen America react with sadness and grief over one their most beloved athletes, and a name who has been at the elite level of sport for such a long time.
Statement on Lindsey Vonn:
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) February 8, 2026
Lindsey Vonn fell in the Olympic downhill and will be evaluated by medical staff.
Footage appears to show reason behind crash:
However, while it appears that Vonn’s knee was the culprit behind her crash, photographs seem to show the athlete clipping the gate with her ski pole right before a slight jump.
The contact may have caused her to spin and lose her balance.
The AP's Jacquelyn Martin has the photo that shows the split-second before Lindsey Vonn's crash: her right ski pole clips the gate at the crest of the jump, which flung her off balance and induced the crash. pic.twitter.com/RKjQ4H4lKg
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 8, 2026
Related stories
Vonn's Olympics over after shocking crash
US to get Olympic schedule rolling
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment