Lindsey Vonn Returns for 2026 Winter Olympics

American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn made a dramatic return to the Olympic stage at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, though her quest for a fairytale finish met a heartbreaking end during the women’s downhill on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

At 41, Vonn attempted what many called the “impossible” by competing just nine days after sustaining a fresh ACL rupture during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Despite her injury and a previous titanium knee replacement, she successfully completed training runs to qualify for the final.

The Olympic Downhill: A Story of Grit

Vonn’s return to the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina—a venue where she holds a record 12 World Cup wins—was the most anticipated event of the first weekend.

• The Run: Vonn started with incredible speed, but just 13 seconds into her run, her right ski pole clipped the first gate at the crest of a jump.

• The Crash: The contact threw her off balance, leading to a high-speed crash. The race was halted as Vonn was treated on the slope and eventually airlifted to a hospital in Treviso.

• Medical Status: Following the crash, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team confirmed she underwent surgery to stabilize a fractured left leg. She is currently in stable condition.

The 2026 Comeback Season

Before her Olympic accident, Vonn’s comeback was one of the most successful “second acts” in sports history.

Team USA Success

While Vonn’s race ended in disappointment, her teammate Breezy Johnson captured the Gold Medal in the same event, clocking a time of 1:36.10. Johnson’s victory marked Team USA’s first gold of the 2026 Games, a bittersweet moment as the team rallied around their veteran leader.

“Just getting to the start line was the victory. If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback.” — Lindsey Vonn, Feb 2026