Credited from: LEMONDE
Lindsey Vonn suffered a significant crash in her last downhill race before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, injuring her left knee and raising questions about her participation in the upcoming Games. The incident occurred during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, when Vonn lost control while landing a jump and collided with safety nets, resulting in her airlift to a hospital for further evaluation. "I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee," she stated on social media, emphasizing that her Olympic dream is "not over," according to CBS News, Los Angeles Times, and BBC.
The crash raised immediate concerns about Vonn's fitness for the Olympics, especially as she was leading the World Cup rankings this season, having achieved two victories and multiple podium finishes. Vonn's performance had been closely monitored following her remarkable comeback season after a partial knee replacement. Following her crash, she was seen cautiously making her way down the hill while keeping weight off her injured knee, which prompted the cancellation of the race due to poor visibility and safety concerns, reports Al Jazeera, NPR, and India Times.
Al Jazeera and Le Monde. Vonn's determination to recover reflects her extensive history with injuries and comebacks, notably her gold medal victory in the 2010 Olympics amidst prior setbacks.
In her social media update, Vonn expressed her gratitude for the support received and emphasized her commitment to working closely with her medical team to assess her condition. "This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics... but if there's one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback," she shared, reiterating her resilience as she prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games, as reported by Los Angeles Times and India Times.