U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn crashed during her final downhill race before the Milan Cortina Olympics and was airlifted for medical evaluation Friday, raising concerns about her readiness for the Games, which begin in one week.
Vonn, 41, lost control after a jump and slid into safety nets on the upper section of the course in the Crans-Montana World Cup downhill. She was one of three skiers to crash in the race.
After receiving attention on the course, Vonn stood up, appeared in discomfort, and used her poles to support herself. She slowly skied to the finish, stopping multiple times and holding her left knee.
The race, run in low-visibility conditions, was canceled after Vonn’s accident.
Vonn, who returned to racing last season after a nearly six-year absence, was transported by helicopter from the finish area. Before being airlifted, she was seen with a concerned expression and hugged teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading when the race was called off.
“I know she hurt her knee, I talked to her,” International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann said. “I don’t know if it’s really heavy and (if) she won’t miss the Olympics. Let’s wait for what the doctors are saying.”
Vonn has led the downhill standings this season with two wins and three additional podium finishes. In eight World Cup races across downhill and super-G, she placed in the top three seven times.
Her first Olympic event is scheduled for Feb. 8, the women’s downhill, followed by the super-G and the team combined. The event will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record with 12 World Cup wins.
She had been set to race in the Crans-Montana super-G on Saturday as her final pre-Olympic event.
On Friday, she was the sixth skier on course and recorded the fastest time at the first checkpoint before losing balance on a jump. She raised her left arm in an attempt to stabilize, but spun and crashed into the netting.
Austrian skier Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen also crashed before Vonn. Ortlieb fell in the same section, while Monsen crashed near the finish and was removed by sled. Both incidents delayed the race. Wiles and Olympic champion Corinne Suter completed clean runs before the race was ultimately canceled.
Visibility was limited, with snowfall and a bumpy surface reported by competitors. “You can’t see, and it’s bumpy everywhere,” said Romane Miradoli of France. When asked if conditions were dangerous, she said, “We just couldn’t see well.”
Vonn has experienced serious injuries before, including a major crash during a super-G at the 2013 world championships in similar conditions, followed by knee surgery and missed Olympic seasons.
Friday’s race occurred amid a somber atmosphere in Crans-Montana, following a deadly fire on New Year’s Day that killed 40 people and injured over 100. A moment of silence was held before the event. The finish area displayed black and white banners with multilingual messages of condolence.
