Lindsey Vonn crashes during final downhill before Winter Olympics - AP explains

Описание: (30 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crans-Montana, Switzerland - 30 January 2026
1. Wide of medics preparing skier Lindsey Vonn for airlift
2. Wide of Vonn and medics being lifted
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press:
"Here at Crans-Montana, Friday afternoon in the Swiss Alps and huge news for the sport of alpine skiing just one week before the opening ceremony at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Two hours ago, above where I'm standing, a helicopter airlifting the sport's biggest global star, Lindsey Vonn, to a hospital for medical checks after she crashed in the last World Cup women's downhill before the Olympics open. It had been a tricky race and difficult weather conditions: falling snow, overcast skies and twice delayed by other races crashing even before Vonn started. She was having a fast run, then she lost control going into a right hand turn and went into a spinning slide into the safety fences. After a few minutes, she got up, skiid down to the finish area, but clearly in some anguish."
4. Wide of Vonn and medics being lifted
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press:
"Her incredible comeback at age 41 with titanium to strengthen her right knee has all been geared towards competing at the Milan Olympics, 16 years after she was the Olympic champion in Vancouver. This time, the injury is her left knee. We don't know yet how serious, but obviously far from ideal just nine days before the Olympic downhill at Cortina d'Ampezzo -- not ideal for Vonn, for the sport of skiing and for the Olympics itself. All looking for another remarkable comeback and recovery for Lindsey Vonn."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Skier Lindsey Vonn crashed Friday in her final downhill before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and was left limping and keeping weight off her left knee — a troublesome development in the 41-year-old's spectacular skiing comeback.

Vonn — who was expected to be one of the stars of the Olympics but now faces uncertainty over her status — lost control when landing a jump in a World Cup race held in difficult conditions with low visibility and ended up tangled in the safety nets on the upper portion of the course.

The race was later cancelled after three of the first six racers crashed.

Vonn eventually got up after receiving medical attention and walked away gingerly, taking weight off her left knee and using her poles to steady herself. She then clicked her skis back on but stopped to check her left knee.

The American eventually made it to the finish area and limped into a tent for medical attention. She was then airlifted away by helicopter — dangling from a rope across the Swiss Alps.

Vonn has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes, having returned last season after a partial right knee titanium replacement, 16 years after she became the Olympic champion in Vancouver.

Vonn’s first Olympic race is the women’s downhill on Feb. 8. She was also planning on competing in the super-G and the new team combined event at the Games.

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