CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — U.S. ski star Lindsey Vonn was airlifted for medical evaluation Friday after crashing in her final World Cup downhill race before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old, who has been one of the season’s leading downhillers, lost control after landing a jump and became entangled in safety nets on the upper portion of the course.
Vonn skied slowly to the finish line, stopping several times while clutching her left knee. She was taken by helicopter from the site for further assessment, though the U.S. Ski Team said her condition is still being evaluated. The race was subsequently canceled due to difficult conditions and low visibility.
“She hurt her knee, I talked to her,” International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann said. “I don’t know if it’s serious or if she will miss the Olympics. Let’s wait for the doctors’ report.”
Vonn made a comeback last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from competitive skiing. Racing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has claimed two victories and three other podium finishes in the five downhills she has contested this season. Her first Olympic race is scheduled for Feb. 8 in the women’s downhill, with additional events in the super-G and the new team combined competition.
Friday’s race saw multiple crashes in challenging snow and low-visibility conditions. Austrian skier Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen both fell earlier on the course. Teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading at the time, and Olympic champion Corinne Suter completed their runs before the event was called off.
Vonn has experienced several high-profile crashes in her career, including a 2013 super-G at the World Championships in Schladming, Austria, when she tore her right knee and was airlifted from the course.
The Crans-Montana race began with a minute of silence to honor victims of a devastating New Year’s Day fire that killed 40 people and injured more than 100. The finish area was marked with black-and-white banners expressing condolences in multiple languages.
