Everything We Know About Lindsey Vonn’s Injury Ahead of the Milano Cortina Games

The 41-year-old provided an update to her 2.7 million Instagram followers after her crash at the Crans-Montana downhill.

Lindsey Vonn / Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images

Lindsey Vonn took to Instagram to disclose that her “Olympic dream is not over” following a frightening crash at the Crans-Montana downhill. The 41-year-old skier—who officially qualified for the Milano Cortina Games in December—was “airlifted to the hospital” during the Jan. 30 event, Olympics.com reported, after “[slamming] into the safety nets just seconds into her run.”

The race was ultimately cancelled, with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation explaining that the decision was made “due to growing safety concerns”. Despite the scare, the gold medalist assured her fanbase that she’s aiming to be back on the course for the global competition, which commences on Feb. 6.

Lindsey Vonn crashed in her final downhill race before the Winter Olympics on Friday and was airlifted from the course for medical checks, a troubling turn for the 41-year-old U.S. ski star just a week before the Milan Cortina Games. pic.twitter.com/9B8WI9yGb9

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 30, 2026

Mirroring a statement shared to her grid, Vonn penned, “I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams.” The athlete continued, “This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback [...] I will give more information when I have it.” She then expressed her gratitude to the medics who assisted her on location, and shouted out her fellow downhill skier, Marte Monsen, who also crashed during the event.

The athlete’s return to the Games has been highly anticipated following her retirement in Feb. 2019. Before originally stepping away from the sport, she notched two bronze medals in PyeongChang 2018 and Vancouver 2010, and one gold in Vancouver 2010, across four Olympic appearances—starting with her 2002 debut in Salt Lake City.

View this post on Instagram

In Nov. 2024, following a right knee replacement, she revealed to the New York Times that she was ready to race competitively again. On her Olympic aspirations, she told the publication at the time, “I’ve always enjoyed racing in Cortina and I’ve had a lot of success in Cortina.” She continued, “I don’t know what the next few months and the next year and a half hold for me. So I can’t say right now if it’s a possibility,” before later adding, “But I think everyone knows how much I love Cortina.”

And, while fans await any further updates, they took to Vonn’s comment section to wish her a speedy recovery.

“We love you! ❤️,” fellow Olympian Charli Hawkins penned.

“We’re all rooting for you!! ❤️❤️,” Olivia Munn added.

The Olympic Games’ official Instagram also chimed in to support the gold medalist: “Recover well, champion. ❤️”

---

More Lifestyle & Celeb:

feed