Winter Olympics: Lindsey Vonn praised for incredible sporting act moments after serious crash – ‘Real character shows up’
Updated 09/02/2026 at 13:19 GMT
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Lindsey Vonn has been praised for her incredibly sporting act just moments after her Winter Olympics dream came to an end. The 41-year-old was bidding to cap off her remarkable comeback with a medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games but suffered a broken leg in a heavy crash in the women's downhill. She was airlifted to hospital but not before she could pass on a message to her team.
Watch: Vonn suffers big crash to end downhill hopes
Video credit: TNT Sports
Coach Aksel Lund Svindal has paid a heartfelt tribute to Lindsey Vonn and praised her character after the 41-year-old broke her leg in a serious crash in the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Vonn was aiming to claim a remarkable Olympic medal but lost control early in her run when she clipped a gate with her arm and was sent into a high-speed spin.
After a lengthy delay, Vonn was airlifted to hospital but as she lay on the snow, Vonn still had the presence of mind to congratulate American team-mate Breezy Johnson, who had already set a stunning time that ultimately proved good enough for gold.
"Lindsey. You're incredibly brave," Svindal, the former two-time Olympic champion who coaches Vonn, wrote on social media. "You inspire people that follow your journey and us that work closely with you every day.
"Yesterday was a tough day on the mountain. For everyone, but most of all for you. Still something happened that I think says everything. ‘Tell Breezy congrats and good job’.
"Your team-mate was in the lead, and that's the message you wanted the US ski team coaches to remember before you got airlifted to the hospital. Real character shows up in the hard moments.
"Big congrats to Breezy Johnson for the gold."
Vonn is one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history and was hoping to write another chapter in her illustrious career.
After a litany of injuries, she was forced to retire in 2019, but after undergoing partial knee replacement, Vonn decided to make a stunning comeback in 2024.
Her ultimate goal was to compete in one final Winter Olympics and was in great form in the lead-up, but suffered a serious setback in her preparation when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee just nine days out from the women’s downhill.
- ‘My heart hurts for you’ - Vonn’s fellow skiers pay tribute following crash
- ‘It’s a look’ – Gold medal winner immediately breaks her medal
Despite that, she vowed to compete and completed two training runs without any problems, raising hopes she could do the unthinkable.
But it was not to be. After being taken to hospital, Vonn had surgery on her fractured leg and was in "stable condition" after the operation.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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