Lindsey Vonn Sits Out Final Tune-Up but Keeps Olympic Hopes Alive
Alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn won’t be competing in the final pre-Olympic World Cup super-G race after crashing and injuring her knee, but her team says she remains on track for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Crash in Crans-Montana
Vonn, 41, suffered a fall during Friday’s World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, just one week before the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are set to open. After landing a jump, she lost control and skidded into the safety nets, with visible discomfort in her left knee.
Following the crash which prompted medical staff to attend to her on the slope, Vonn skied slowly to the finish, clutching her knee, and was airlifted from the course for further evaluation.
Final Warmup Race Withdrawn
The next day’s scheduled World Cup super-G, which would have been Vonn’s last competitive tune-up before the Olympics, was missed as she recovered from the crash. In a post on social media, Vonn acknowledged the setback, writing “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today… Doing my best right now…” and thanked fans for their support.
Her personal coach, Chris Knight, confirmed to the media that while Vonn isn’t racing, she’s continuing preparations for the Milan-Cortina Games as usual and remains focused on competing.
Olympic Dream Still Alive
Despite the crash and missed race, Vonn has been unwavering in her determination. She told fans that her “Olympic dream is not over” and that she’s working with medical professionals to assess her condition as the Games draw near.
Vonn’s first event at the Winter Olympics is scheduled to be the women’s downhill on February 8, two days after the opening ceremony. She also plans to contest other alpine events, including the super-G and team combined, depending on how her knee responds.
A Storied Comeback
The news comes as part of an extraordinary comeback story. Vonn retired in 2019 but returned to competitive skiing after a partial knee replacement in 2024, racing not only to compete but to add to her Olympic legacy. In the current season, she had been one of the top downhill competitors on the World Cup circuit.
With a 2026 Olympic appearance potentially her final one, Vonn’s journey has captured global attention and even a setback now hasn’t dampened her resolve.
What’s Next
As Vonn continues to recover and undergo evaluation, all eyes will be on her in the coming days to see if she can compete in Milan-Cortina. Fans will be watching closely as she aims to add to the medals she first began winning more than a decade earlier.
Source: The Guardian
Image Credit Wikimedia Commons-2
