Lindsey Vonn is commenting for the first time since her scary crash at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, revealing that her ruptured ACL didn’t cause the accident.
On Sunday, Feb. 8, Vonn, who previously won a gold medal in downhill skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics, hoped to reclaim her spot on the podium. But, her dream abruptly ended when she crashed just 13.4 seconds into the downhill final, as NBC News reported, and she was airlifted off the course via helicopter.
Her crash came nine days after she ruptured her ACL in her left knee. However, Vonn shared in a statement that that wasn’t the reason she couldn’t complete the course.
In a message posted on Instagram Feb. 9, Vonn said, “Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy (tale), it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches.”
Lindsey Vonn of Team United States during the course inspection before the Downhill Training of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 6, 2026. (Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT / Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn during the course inspection before the Downhill Training at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 6, 2026. (Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT / Getty Images)
(Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT)
She continued, “I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”
Vonn said she fractured her tibia in the crash. Although she is stable, she “will require multiple surgeries to fix” her leg.
“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” she added. “Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”
The 41-year-old said that she took a risk in competing just like she takes a risk every time she skies down a course. Even though she didn’t succeed, she is proud of herself for trying.
Vonn ended her statement on a positive note, writing, “I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying. I believe in you, just as you believed in me.”
Lindsey Vonn Olympic Schedule (Millo Moravski / Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Vonn said she had no regrets. (Millo Moravski / Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
(Millo Moravski)
She didn’t get to achieve her dream of being the oldest Alpine skier, man or woman, to win an Olympic medal. But, fellow Team USA athlete Breezy Johnson did secure the victory, marking the first medal for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Johnson spoke about her win and Vonn’s injury during an appearance on TODAY Feb. 9.
“I don’t claim to understand how Lindsey’s feeling, but obviously, (with) my crash in Cortina in 2022, I know a bit of what it’s like to have this hill bite you and your Olympic dreams,” Johnson said. “My heart goes out to her. It’s particularly difficult because we all love this track so much. We race here at World Cup level every year. We call it a ‘classic track,’ so we come here all the time. It’s like your favorite dog biting you. It really hurts that much worse.”
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Johnson’s win, her first Olympic medal, was historic as she is the first American to win the Olympic downhill event in 16 years.
She said she still hasn’t processed her achievement.
“It definitely has not sunk in yet, but it’s been a crazy whirlwind,” she shared. “I was joking yesterday that I don’t know that I’m always the best downhill skier in the world, but maybe (in) February I can’t be beat.”
