CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Olympic alpine skier Lindsey Vonn's highly anticipated return to the Winter Games ended in heartbreak on Sunday when she crashed during the women's downhill final at the 2026 Olympics, forcing medical teams to airlift her off the mountain.
The 41-year-old American, competing in her sixth Olympics after a five-year retirement, tumbled into the snow just before the first marker on the challenging course here in the Italian Dolomites. Broadcast footage captured Vonn's screams of pain echoing across the slope, drawing immediate concern from spectators and fellow competitors. Medical personnel rushed to her side, securing her to a stretcher before a helicopter whisked her away for evaluation at a nearby hospital.
Family members, watching from afar, described the scene as terrifying. Vonn's sister, Karin Kildow, spoke to NBC's Cara Banks shortly after the incident. "That’s definitely the last thing we wanted to see," Kildow said. "When that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay, and it was scary. When you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign." She added that Vonn had "dared greatly, and she put it all out there," emphasizing her sister's full commitment to the comeback.
As of late Sunday, the Vonn family had not received a detailed update on her condition, according to Kildow's comments to NBC News. Officials with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team confirmed that Vonn was stable during transport but deferred further medical details to privacy protocols. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. local time, halting the race briefly as organizers assessed the course safety.
Vonn's participation in these Games, hosted across Cortina d'Ampezzo for skiing events and Milan for others, marked a remarkable resurgence. She had retired in 2019 after a storied career that included a gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics — the first for an American woman in the event — along with a bronze in Super-G that year and another downhill bronze in 2018 PyeongChang. Plagued by knee injuries over the years, Vonn underwent a partial right knee replacement in 2024, which she credited with eliminating chronic pain for the first time since her initial surgery in 2013.
Her path back to competition was anything but smooth. Just weeks before the Olympics, on January 30, Vonn crashed during a World Cup race in Switzerland, suffering a ruptured left ACL, a bone bruise, and meniscal tears. Undeterred, she pushed through intensive therapy and consultations with doctors. On February 3, Vonn posted on Instagram, declaring her readiness: "After extensive consultations with doctors, intense therapy, physical tests, as well as skiing today, I have determined I am capable of competing in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday." She acknowledged the risks, saying, "I know what my chances in these Olympics were before this crash, and even though my chances aren't the same now, there is still a chance. And as long as I have a chance, I will not lose hope. I will not give up! It's not over yet!"
At a press conference that same day, Vonn reiterated her resolve: "I am not letting this slip through my fingers. I’m not crying. My head is high, I’m standing tall and I’m going to do my best." Earlier, in a December interview with NBC News, she reflected on life post-retirement, noting that business ventures like board calls and investing paled in comparison to the thrill of downhill racing. "Board calls are nice, but they’re not really the same as downhill," she said. "And investing is great, but it’s also not the same. I built a great life outside of skiing, but there will never be anything like skiing."
The incident has cast a shadow over Team USA's alpine efforts, where Vonn was joined by Mikaela Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist seeking redemption after a disappointing 2022 Beijing Games and a November 2024 crash that punctured her abdomen, requiring surgery. The 30-year-old told TIME magazine in December that she felt "very aware of all the things that could happen that I can't expect." She emphasized her strong support system, including her engagement to Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who reassured her during tough times: "He's positive, he's telling me, 'Just remember, it's going to be OK,'" Shiffrin shared with Olympics.com. "And especially last season, there were some moments where I really questioned why I was trying to return... And he was like, ‘Hey, you know yourself better. You're trying your hardest. If it doesn't work, that's also OK.’"
Beyond alpine skiing, Vonn's crash underscores the high-stakes nature of these Olympics for the U.S. delegation. Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, the most decorated in U.S. history, is in her fourth and final Games, carrying the flag with a message of purpose. The 34-year-old from Afton, Minnesota, wrote on Instagram on January 31: "I get to decide who I’m racing for every single day, and how I want to live up to my values. For everyone out there caring for others, protecting their neighbors, and meeting people with love—every single step is for you." Post-retirement, she looks forward to gardening and time with her husband, as she told NPR's All Things Considered.
In speed skating, 21-year-old Jordan Stolz, who debuted at 17 in Beijing, is a medal favorite in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter events, plus the mass start. He told the Associated Press in January: "If I can have perfect races, I think I have the best chances out of a lot of people to win gold." Handling pressure, he added, "As long as nothing gets in the way, then I should be fine. I’ve had a lot of high-pressure races, so I don’t think that’s that big of an issue."
Erin Jackson, the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating with 500-meter gold in Beijing, returns as a flag bearer alongside bobsledder Frank Del Duca for the February 6 Opening Ceremony. The 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida, said in a statement: "Being chosen to represent the United States on the world stage is a tremendous honor. It's a moment that reflects far more than one individual—it represents my family, my teammates, my hometown, and everyone across the country who believes in the power of sport." She plans to launch an organization for young Black athletes in speed skating, stressing representation: "I think representation is super important because it helps to see someone like you achieving something," she told NBC Olympics.
Snowboarder Chloe Kim, aiming for a third halfpipe gold despite a torn labrum from a January training fall in Switzerland, described her pre-Games mindset to NBC Olympics on January 22 as a "pretty chill" lead-up. The 25-year-old from Torrance, California, said, "I'm home right now, and I'll be heading out to Europe early next week to get a few days of training in before we head over to Milan." She reflected on the Olympic experience: "I think the experience as a whole, it's really hard to describe, but I feel like we all kind of transform into peak versions of ourselves."
Red Gerard, the 2018 slopestyle gold medalist, is in his third Olympics at 25 and feels "young and really, really healthy," he told People magazine in January. Now mentoring younger athletes after joining Team USA at 13, he approaches the Games by treating them like any competition: "I just try to tell myself when the Olympics are coming around, it's the same as all the other competitions... So, if you can kind of put your blinders on and just worry about what you got to do and treat it the same as you have your whole life, that's what I always try to do."
Freestyle skiers like Alex Ferreira, seeking his first gold in halfpipe after silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022, enters healthy for the first time. The 31-year-old from Aspen, Colorado, told the Daily Express: "I think this is the year I can win gold because, one, I'm coming into the games healthy... This time I'm healthy, this time I'm a little bit older, I'm much more focused, laser-focused." He credits family and his rescue dog Brandy for support, noting, "The thing I love most about Brandy is that she's not counting medals. She's just wagging her tail when I get home."
Alex Hall, the reigning slopestyle gold medalist, eyes a repeat while improving in Big Air. The 27-year-old, who grew up in Zurich but lives in Utah, told POWDER magazine in October 2025 that European snow excites him, especially with family from Bologna attending. His mother is Italian, adding a personal layer: "For me personally, it’s also pretty cool because my mom is Italian... A bunch of them are coming up for the Olympics, so that will be pretty sweet."
Jaelin Kauf, a moguls specialist in her third Olympics, draws from her parents' legacy — mother Patti Sherman-Kauf won two World Pro Moguls Tour titles, and father Scott Kauf secured five. Patti told NBC Olympics that baby Jaelin "liked to be bounced," hinting at her athletic roots. Kauf admitted to Teton Gravity Research in November 2025 that she prefers powder days but pursued moguls seeing her parents' success: "I’d take a powder day over bumps any time. But I think that seeing and knowing how my parents made a life as professional skiers made me realize it was a possibility." Her team includes boyfriend Bradley Wilson and coach Bryon Wilson.
Bobsledder Kaillie Humphries, a five-time Olympian now with Team USA after switching from Canada in 2019 amid allegations of a toxic environment, won monobob gold in 2022. The 40-year-old from Calgary, who became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and welcomed son Aulden in June 2024, told the AP in 2019: "My feelings for Canada don't lessen, but I can love something else just as much." Her journey highlights resilience amid personal and professional challenges.
As Vonn's recovery unfolds, the focus shifts to the remaining events, with Team USA athletes underscoring themes of perseverance and support. Officials expect updates on Vonn's status soon, while the Games continue through February 22, promising more stories of triumph and trial on the slopes and ice.