Skiing icon Lindsey Vonn endured a harrowing crash during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics on Sunday. The 41-year-old athlete was back in action just nine days after suffering a left ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Vonn’s much-anticipated return took a tragic turn as she crashed shortly into her run, prompting immediate medical attention and the deployment of a stretcher. The distressing scene left spectators in silence as Vonn was airlifted for further medical care, likely to a nearby hospital.
Renowned five-time Olympic skier Graham Bell, providing commentary for BBC Two, expressed shock at the incident, highlighting the risks Vonn had taken to compete. Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, who raced alongside Vonn, also shared emotional sentiments, expressing disbelief at the unfortunate turn of events.
Vonn had previously been hospitalized via air ambulance on January 30 for a ruptured ACL suffered during a World Cup event in Switzerland. Despite a remarkable recovery and participation in practice sessions leading up to the Olympics, her final appearance at the Winter Games ended in disappointment after the downhill crash.
The incident caused a temporary course hold, and shortly after Vonn’s mishap, Cande Moreno also suffered a crash on the steepest part of the course, requiring evacuation due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, Sky has announced a reduction in the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering an increased number of live Premier League matches to subscribers.