Famed Olympian Lindsey Vonn Hospitalized After Crash

The four-time World Cup champion suffered a complex tibia fracture during the women's downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lindsey Vonn, a famed American alpine ski racer and four-time World Cup champion, was hospitalized after a serious crash during the women's downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn, who had returned to competition after a partial knee replacement in 2024, suffered a complex tibia fracture and was airlifted off the slopes for treatment.

Why it matters

Vonn is one of the most decorated and recognizable Olympic skiers of her generation, with four World Cup titles and a gold medal from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Her dramatic return to competition after a major injury had captivated fans, making her crash and subsequent hospitalization a major story in the world of winter sports.

The details

During the women's downhill event, Vonn's arm hooked the fourth gate, causing her to crash and suffer a complex tibia fracture. She received immediate medical attention on the slopes and was airlifted to a hospital in Treviso, Italy, where she underwent surgery to stabilize the broken left leg, which also had bone bruising and meniscus damage from a previous crash.

  • Vonn made her World Cup debut on November 18, 2000, in Park City, Utah.
  • She competed in the 2003 Winter Olympics at age 17.
  • Vonn returned to the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006, where she crashed and was hospitalized overnight.
  • Vonn retired from competition in 2019 but returned for the 2026 Winter Olympics after receiving a partial knee replacement in 2024.
  • The crash that hospitalized Vonn occurred on February 8, 2026, during the women's downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The players

Lindsey Vonn

A famed American alpine ski racer who has won four World Cup championships and a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. She returned to competition for the 2026 Winter Olympics after receiving a partial knee replacement in 2024.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets. I tried. I dreamt. I jumped. I hope if you take away anything from my journey it's that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”

— Lindsey Vonn (Instagram)

What’s next

More updates on Vonn's condition and recovery are expected in the near future.

The takeaway

Vonn's dramatic return to the Olympics after a major injury had captivated fans, and her crash and hospitalization serve as a reminder of the risks and sacrifices elite athletes make to compete at the highest levels of their sport.