Will Lindsey Vonn compete again after her horror crash at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Olympics?

It was the most heartbreaking image witnessed at the Milan‑Cortina 2026 games. On Sunday morning, Lindsey Vonn, four‑time world champion and three‑time Olympic medalist, was sent head over heels as she hurtled down the Tofane slope at 80 miles an hour. A brutal, violent crash which drew gasps from the crowd.

On a giant video screen, Vonn was seen lying motionless on the snow, both knees contorted. The 41-year-old was shown with tears streaming down here face before being airlifted off the mountain by helicopter.

Knee ligament injury just days before flying out to Italy

Vonn was the first of three Team USA competitors to take to the slopes in Sunday’s women’s downhill. Her race last just 12 seconds, and sadly, her Olympics are over.

In many ways, it was a small miracle that Vonn was at Milan‑Cortina at all. She ruptured the ACL in her left knee during the same event at the Crans‑Montana World Cup on January 30. Her other knee was fitted with a titanium plate in a revolutionary, partial knee replacement operation in April 2024.

Vonn comes out of retirement

Lindsey has been in the wars throughout her career, suffering her fair share of sprains, fractures and bruises over the years. She announced her retirement after the 2019 World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden, only to be enticed back to competitive sport in November 2024.

Today’s accident at Milan‑Cortina 2026 could signal the end of her professional career in competitive sport - a sad and cruel finale to a legendary career. Lindsey made her Olympic debut aged just 17 at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. She appeared in a total of seven Olympics, competing in five different events. She won the gold medal in the downhill and the bronze in the Super-G at the 2010 games in Canada and another bronze in PyeongChang eight years later.

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.