American skiing star Lindsey Vonn has undergone surgery for a broken leg following her dramatic crash in the women’s downhill at the Winter Olympics Milano-Cortina 2026.
Vonn was airlifted to a clinic in Cortina shortly after the fall, which occurred just seconds into her run on Sunday, February 8, before being transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso.
Ca’ Foncello Hospital confirmed that Vonn “underwent orthopaedic surgery to stabilize a fracture in her left leg.”
The US Ski & Snowboard Team stated that Vonn is now in a “stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.”
According to reports, Vonn suffered a severe accident at the very start of the race and was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition. The incident occurred on Sunday during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old athlete had entered the competition despite a serious knee injury, which had made her participation a major focus since the beginning of the Games. Wearing a specialized protective knee brace, she appeared confident at the start and launched her run with her signature aggressive style.
Vonn has extensive experience on Cortina’s famous “Olympia delle Tofane” track, where she has achieved multiple international victories in her career.
However, during the race, she collided with the fourth gate with her shoulder, lost balance, and was violently thrown off the track at high speed, sustaining serious injuries.
— RT (@RT_com) February 8, 2026
Live coverage captured her cries of pain, shocking fans and fellow competitors alike. Medical personnel rushed to the scene immediately, and she was airlifted to a local hospital in Cortina.
No immediate details have been released regarding her current condition.
