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Lindsay VonnHer hopes of winning a fourth Olympic medal were dealt a blow on Friday when she fell in her final downhill World Cup race before the Olympics.
The American was taken to hospital in apparent discomfort following a crash in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana and now faces a race against time to be fit for Milan-Cortina in 2026.
She wrote on social media on Friday: “I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further testing.
“It was a very difficult result a week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s come back.
“My Olympic dream is not over yet. Thank you all for your love and support.”
Vonn lost control while landing on a jump during a World Cup race and ended up tangled in a safety net on the upper part of the track.
After receiving medical attention, she eventually stood up, carefully stepped away, took the weight off her left knee and used a brace to steady herself. The 41-year-old then put her skis back on but paused to check her left knee.
She eventually made it to the end zone, where she was comforted by U.S. teammate Jacqueline Wells and limped into a tent to receive medical attention before being flown by helicopter to a hospital.
Vaughan thanked medical staff for the “incredible help” she received and said she would provide further information about her condition in due course.
The coach here is former Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, customs Reuters: “She had some pain so it was better to get some tests done and the physiotherapist did some tests. It looked good but there were some things he wasn’t 100% sure about so it was better to get them checked out [at the hospital]”.
The race was initially cut short due to poor weather conditions and then organizers decided to cancel as the snow continued to fall.
Three of the top six riders crashed; Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen were the other two who gave up running, the latter being carried away on a stretcher with a bloodied face. Vaughan was the sixth racer on the track.
The accident occurred a week before the opening ceremony in Cortina, Milan, where the women’s downhill race – Vonn’s first event at the Olympics – will be held on February 8.
Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, has started the season well, winning two World Cups, but has missed the podium in five downhill races and is the favorite to win another gold medal in Milan-Cortina.
She initially retired due to injury in 2019, but returned in 2024 after a partial titanium replacement of her right knee.
French runner Romane Miradoli, who finished the race, said visibility was an issue because of the snow. “You can’t see it, there are bumps and bumps everywhere,” she said.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press