Lindsey Vonn has suffered a serious fall. © APA/afp / HANDOUT

Shock after Vonn's fall: "I heard her screams"

Lindsey Vonn's fall has deeply shaken the skiing world. Now there's an initial update – and many shocked reactions.

February 08, 2026

From Cortina d'Ampezzo

The finish area at the Olimpia delle Tofane was at its best for much of Sunday. Every split time was cheered, every athlete urged across the finish line. It didn't matter whether the downhill skier came from Italy, Norway, or the USA. It was quite loud at the foot of the Olympic slope. Until bib number 13 was down. Until the Lindsey Vonn drama unfolded.

The most popular female skier of all time had only been on the course for a few seconds when her hand caught on a gate, causing her to tumble violently and crash onto the icy slope. Within seconds, the huge party in the finish area turned into an eerie silence. Lindsey Vonn, who had surprised everyone with her heroic comeback and hadn't even let a torn ACL stop her, was seriously injured. Initial reports indicate a fracture in the lower leg.

Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

This crash caused shock not only among the fans but also among the athletes. Sofia Goggia, who ultimately won bronze and maintains a good relationship with Vonn, said at the press conference: "I was standing in the starting gate, and I heard her screams."

Teammate's broken heart

Vonn's teammate Jacqueline Wiles was deeply saddened. "I was happy for Breezy (Johnson, gold medalist), but devastated for Lindsey. It's truly awful, and my heart broke for her in that moment. But that's the risk of this sport." Johan Eliasch, the FIS chief executive, stated: "It's a tragedy. On behalf of the FIS, I want to thank Lindsey Vonn for attempting a comeback."

"This is a fall the likes of which I have not experienced in almost 40 years." Felix Neureuther

Felix Neureuther, who served as a commentator for ARD Vonn's coach, Karin Kildow, said: "It's a nightmare. That's a fall the likes of which I haven't seen in almost 40 years." Vonn's sister, Karin Kildow, said: "That was definitely the last thing we wanted to see. It all happened so fast, and in a situation like that, you immediately hope she's okay. It was a pretty bad fall, but Lindsey won't regret her decision to compete."

Nicol Delago, the only South Tyrolean competitor, also sympathized with Vonn. "It's such a shame for Lindsey! Her whole comeback was geared towards this day, she was in great shape, and then this happens."