Lindsey Vonn said she would make it to the Olympic downhill starting gate despite rupturing the most important ligament in her knee nine days ago, and she did. Starting 13th, Vonn went off a jump and clipped a gate in midair, sending her sideways as she landed and crashed hard to the snow. Within minutes, a helicopter could be heard flying up the mountain as medics tended to Vonn in the middle of the slope. Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, said on the NBC broadcast after Vonn was airlifted out:💬 “That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. I think she’s being evaluated right now is the only thing we’ve heard.”

Source: International New York Times February 08, 2026 13:54 UTC