3 days ago
5
Lindsey Vonn "In Stable Condition" After Shocking Olympics 2026 Crash
Lindsey Vonn is addressing her well-wishers.
One day after the alpine ski racer crashed during the women’s downhill final at the 2026 Olympics in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 8, she returned to social media to express her gratitude.
After journalist Dan Walker credited her attitude as “the very essence of sport” after “competing in Italy at the age of 41 with an injured ACL,” Lindsay wrote alongside a prayer hands emoji, “Thank you Dan.”
Lindsey’s Feb. 9 note on his kind words comes after she took a terrifying fall down the slopes, resulting in a fractured left leg. But for Dan, the Olympian—who announced she would be competing with a ruptured ACL in her first games since her five-year hiatus from the sport—put her courage on display for the world.
“It wasn’t just about chasing glory… it was about defiance,” he wrote on X Feb. 9. “This is what sport looks like when you strip away the polish. It’s not comfortable… it’s painful. Risk instead of safety.”
“Vonn knew she might not win,” he continued. “She knew it might hurt. She understood the risk. She embraced it because not going down that mountain would mean surrendering to the things that stop you getting out of bed in the morning.”
And winning at the Olympics doesn’t always mean going home with gold.
“Great sporting moments don’t always finish on a podium,” he explained. “They are acts of courage. They are athletes standing on the start line, knowing it could be the last time, knowing it might go wrong… and launching themselves anyway.”
Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
He added, “I hope her body heals quickly and she knows she will always be a winner.”
After being airlifted off the course following the shocking accident, Ca Foncello hospital in Trevizo, Italy, shared a health update on her condition, telling Reuters, "In the afternoon, she underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize the fracture sustained in her left leg."
Following the crash, which occurred seconds after she accidentally caught her arm on a gate upon starting the race, Lindsey’s sister Karin Kildow shared how she “put her whole heart” into training for the 2026 Olympics.
“That’s definitely the last thing we wanted to see,” Karin told NBC after the devastating event. “When that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay, and it was scary. When you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign.”
She added, “She dared greatly, and she put it all out there.”
As Lindsey recovers, keep reading for more moments from the 2026 Olympics…
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session on Feb. 6, days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ice to See You
Alysa Liu of United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women's single skating short program event on Feb. 6.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Jennifer Dodds
Team Great Britain's Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea on Feb. 6.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a Feb. 6. practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine on Feb. 6.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game on Feb. 5.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia's Jakub Hrones during the men's snowboard big air qualifiers on Feb. 5.
Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images
Photo Finish
Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a Feb. 5 training session.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match on Feb. 5.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US) ·