Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn, 41, Suffers Tibia Fracture in Crash

Vonn says she has "no regrets" about her Olympic comeback despite the injury.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American alpine skier, suffered a complex tibia fracture after crashing during the women's downhill competition at the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina. Despite the injury, Vonn said she has "no regrets" about her Olympic comeback and the risks she took to compete.

Why it matters

Vonn's crash and injury highlight the dangers and physical toll of elite-level ski racing, especially for veteran athletes attempting comebacks. Her resilience and willingness to take risks to pursue her Olympic dreams have made her a fan favorite, but also raise questions about when athletes should step away for their own safety.

The details

Vonn was about 13 seconds into her downhill run when she clipped a gate with her arm, lost control, and tumbled down the slope before landing on her back. She was airlifted off the course and underwent surgery at a local hospital. The crash came just over a week after Vonn tore her ACL in a separate crash at the Alpine Ski World Cup.

  • On February 5, 2026, Vonn tore her ACL in a crash at the Alpine Ski World Cup.
  • On February 12, 2026, Vonn crashed during the women's alpine downhill competition at the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina.

The players

Lindsey Vonn

A 41-year-old American alpine skier and three-time Olympic medalist who was attempting a comeback at the 2026 Olympics.

Alan Kildow

Lindsey Vonn's father, who is a former ski racer himself and has expressed concern about his daughter continuing to compete at her age.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”

— Lindsey Vonn (Instagram)

“She's 41 years old and this is the end of her career. There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”

— Alan Kildow, Lindsey Vonn's father (Associated Press)

What’s next

Vonn will undergo multiple surgeries to properly fix her complex tibia fracture. Her father has stated that he believes her skiing career is over, but Vonn has not yet indicated whether she plans to retire.

The takeaway

Lindsey Vonn's latest injury and crash at the Olympics, at the age of 41, highlights the immense physical toll and risks of elite-level ski racing, even for veteran athletes. Her resilience and willingness to take on those risks to pursue her Olympic dreams have made her a fan favorite, but also raise questions about when athletes should step away for their own long-term health and safety.