In a concerning development for Lindsey Vonn’s comeback bid, the decorated Olympic skier fell during a World Cup downhill training run in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Thursday. The 40-year-old Vonn, who recently returned to competition after nearly six years in retirement, appeared shaken up after the spill but was able to ski down to the finish area under her own power.
Vonn Receives Medical Attention After Training Mishap
According to reports from the scene, Vonn entered a medical tent near the finish line to receive treatment for her injuries. The extent of any damage from the fall is not yet known. Vonn has a well-documented injury history, including multiple knee surgeries, and now skis with a titanium knee replacement from her years of racing.
A Promising Start to the Comeback
The training crash comes on the heels of an impressive fourth-place result for Vonn last weekend in the super-G event in St. Anton, Austria. That finish in her first World Cup race since 2019 had stoked optimism that the winningest female Alpine skier in history still had the speed to contend in her mid-40s.
Anytime you’re away from the sport for that long, it’s hard to come back, especially at my age. But I’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and I know I still have the ability to be competitive.
– Lindsey Vonn after her fourth-place finish in St. Anton
Vonn Seeking More Cortina Magic
Cortina d’Ampezzo has been a special venue for Vonn over the years. She has notched a women’s record 12 World Cup wins at the Italian resort, which is set to host the Alpine skiing events at the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Vonn had voiced ambitions of possibly competing in those home Olympics for Italy, where she has long trained.
For now, the ski racing world will await further updates on Vonn’s condition in the wake of this downhill training scare. At age 40 and coming off a lengthy racing hiatus, any injury carries extra concern. But Vonn has made a career of overcoming setbacks and doubters. Only time will tell if this proves to be just a minor bump on her road back to the top of her sport.
- Lindsey Vonn is the winningest female Alpine skier ever with 82 World Cup victories
- She retired in 2019 due to numerous severe injuries including multiple knee reconstructions
- Vonn won the Olympic downhill gold medal in 2010 and has three total Olympic medals
