Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, 41, was airlifted for medical attention after a crash during the Crans-Montana race in Switzerland on Friday, January 30.
A key piece of the Team USA puzzle, Vonn was completing a downhill competition when she lost control during her run, hitting a safety net before continuing her run. A four-time Olympian, Vonn has been an active part of the sport since 2000, and was set to compete in the Olympics in just one week.
Vonn’s Olympic return, which comes on the heels of a five-year retirement between 2019 and 2024, has been heavily followed. According to reports from the Olympics, Vonn “slammed into the safety nets just seconds into her run” and “remained down for several minutes” after the crash. Vonn “looked in pain as she eventually skied down to the finish line” and despite making her way to the finish line, she was later airlifted to a local hospital after on-site medical evaluation.
Though Vonn appeared to be “grimacing in pain,” she made it clear that her Olympic dreams are far from squelched. Although it remains to be seen just how severe her injuries from the crash were, Vonn seems to be adamant that she will be returning to the games to compete once again. She shared on Instagram that “it’s not over until it’s over,” making it clear she’s hopeful for a return. Pending evaluation, an update should be provided on Vonn’s ability to compete in the coming days, if not sooner.
A longtime member of the US team, Vonn has competed in several past Olympic games and took home a gold medal for the women’s downhill event during the Vancouver 2010 games.
Vonn has competed in the World Championships a total of nine times, winning two gold medals, and has won four World Cup overall championships in her illustrious career.