American skier Lindsey Vonn suffered three accidents in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, which ultimately led to the race being cancelled.
Published January 30, 2026
Lindsey Vonn crashed on the final downhill run before the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, sending her limping to hospital with weight on her left knee, raising questions about the 41-year-old’s successful return to skiing.
Vonn, who was expected to be one of the Olympic stars, but whose status is currently uncertain, lost control on landing from a jump during a World Cup race held in difficult conditions with poor visibility on Friday, becoming tangled in a safety net at the top of the course.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, was later canceled after three of the first six racers crashed.
After seeing a doctor, Vonn finally stood up, took weight off her left knee and carefully walked away, using a pole to steady herself. She then clicked her skis back on, but stopped to check her left knee.
The American eventually made it to the finish area and limped into a tent to receive treatment. She was then airlifted by helicopter over the Swiss Alps, hanging on a rope.
Before entering the tent, Vonn looked anxious, her eyes closed as she shared a long hug with teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading the race when the race was stopped.
Vonn returned last season after undergoing partial titanium replacement surgery on his right knee and has been the circuit’s top-down hiller this season, with two wins and three podiums.
Including the super-G, Vonn completed eight races in this season’s World Cup, finishing on the podium in seven of them. Her worst result was fourth place.
The accident occurred just one week before the Milan-Cortina opening ceremony.
Vonn’s first Olympic race will be the women’s downhill on February 8th. She was also scheduled to compete in the super-G and new team combined events at the competition.
Women’s Olympic skiing will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Vonn holds the record for 12 World Cup wins.
Vonn was scheduled to run a super-G in Crans-Montana on Saturday, which was supposed to be her last race before the Olympics.
Vonn set the fastest time at the first checkpoint, but then lost her balance and jumped, lifting her left arm and pole high into the air in an attempt to regain balance. Vonn then spun out as she tried to brake and got caught in the net.
Vonn was the sixth racer to start, and two skiers ahead of her had also crashed: Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Momsen.
Ortlieb crashed from the top in the same area as Vonn, and Momsen hit the net just short of the goal area and had to be carried away on a sled. The race was delayed due to both crashes. But then two racers, Wiles and Olympic champion Corinne Suter, completed the race.
French finisher Romane Miradri said it was snowing and visibility was a problem.
“I can’t see anything. It’s bumpy everywhere,” Miradori said.
Asked if it was dangerous, Miradori added: “I just couldn’t see very well.”
Vonn has had many crashes in her career. One of her worst moments came at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria, during the super-G, also held in difficult conditions. Vonn was then airlifted from the course and had to tear her right knee. She returned the following season, but was injured again and missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
