Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Medal Hopes Dashed After Devastating Crash in Downhill Final
US skiing legend Lindsey Vonn's bid for an unlikely Olympic medal ended abruptly on Sunday when she crashed just 13.4 seconds into the downhill final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Vonn, who was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier - man or woman - to win a gold medal, broke her left leg in the accident and required surgery to stabilize the injury.
The crowd's silence was palpable as Vonn tapped her poles together before pulling out of the gate, but it wasn't until she crashed and tumbled, hitting her head, that screams of pain pierced the broadcast. The 13th woman to start the course, Vonn was attempting to make a comeback after rupturing her ACL in her left knee just over a week ago.
Despite a successful season on the World Cup circuit, where she finished on the podium in all five races and won two victories, Vonn's crash cast doubt on her ability to medal. However, it seems that even with the confidence of a partially replaced right knee and an impressive training run speed record, she may have underestimated the risks.
Vonn faced the twin challenges of health and rust when announcing her return in 2024, five years after injuries had driven her into retirement. Her comeback seemed to put doubts about her medal chances at rest, but the accident on Sunday's course suggests that some risks were still too great.
With American Breezy Johnson taking the gold with a narrow margin, Vonn will now focus on recovery and assessing the extent of her injury. Despite this setback, her determination and resilience remain an inspiration to fans worldwide.
US skiing legend Lindsey Vonn's bid for an unlikely Olympic medal ended abruptly on Sunday when she crashed just 13.4 seconds into the downhill final at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Vonn, who was attempting to become the oldest Alpine skier - man or woman - to win a gold medal, broke her left leg in the accident and required surgery to stabilize the injury.
The crowd's silence was palpable as Vonn tapped her poles together before pulling out of the gate, but it wasn't until she crashed and tumbled, hitting her head, that screams of pain pierced the broadcast. The 13th woman to start the course, Vonn was attempting to make a comeback after rupturing her ACL in her left knee just over a week ago.
Despite a successful season on the World Cup circuit, where she finished on the podium in all five races and won two victories, Vonn's crash cast doubt on her ability to medal. However, it seems that even with the confidence of a partially replaced right knee and an impressive training run speed record, she may have underestimated the risks.
Vonn faced the twin challenges of health and rust when announcing her return in 2024, five years after injuries had driven her into retirement. Her comeback seemed to put doubts about her medal chances at rest, but the accident on Sunday's course suggests that some risks were still too great.
With American Breezy Johnson taking the gold with a narrow margin, Vonn will now focus on recovery and assessing the extent of her injury. Despite this setback, her determination and resilience remain an inspiration to fans worldwide.
... she was really close to getting that Olympic medal and it's just heartbreaking that her comeback got derailed by a huge crash 
. I know she's still going through the tough part right now, but we can't help but feel proud of her bravery and determination - 5 years after coming out of retirement, she gave it her all again 
. hopefully she'll be back on the slopes soon and inspiring us all with her awesomeness 
... thought she had it all sorted out after that comeback training run 
... what can you do when Lady Luck's not with ya? 
still respect her guts for trying tho 
- The Silent Judge 
and american breezy johnson is a total stud btw 
I'm so bummed for Lindsey Vonn! She's been through so much already & just when it seemed like she was back in the game 
, disaster strikes again 
. I've got to admit, even with all her training & confidence, some risks are just too high 
. She'll be focusing on recovery now 
but it's gonna hurt (pun intended 
) seeing that podium finish go to Breezy Johnson 
This is so sad for Lindsey Vonn 
. I know she's still a legend on the slopes, but it's one thing to be healthy and strong, another to deal with injuries 
.
. It was exciting to see her compete again, but I guess the old adage "pride comes before a fall" is true 
. Still, I'm sure she'll bounce back from this, she's Lindsey Vonn after all 
. She's such a legend in skiing and it's crazy that she's already had those major injuries before coming back. I feel bad for her, but at the same time, we gotta respect the risks she took 
.
btw, what's the deal with American Breezy Johnson winning gold? I mean, she's cool and all but i think Lindsey Vonn would've still been a strong contender if she didn't crash...
. Now, fingers crossed for her speedy recovery and maybe we'll see her back on the mountain soon 
i remember watching her compete back in 2014 when she won that gold medal at the Sochi Olympics and it was such an epic moment 
now she's gonna have to sit this one out and focus on getting better 
her determination and resilience are definitely still there tho 
... And now she's gonna have to deal with surgery and rehab? Yikes! 
... At least she's taking it like a champ and not making excuses 
. I feel bad for her, she gave it her all and then just one wrong move 
. Here's a diagram of her downhill final course with an X marking where she crashed 