Lindsey Vonn‘s Olympic comeback came to an abrupt — and heartbreaking — finish. The legendary Team USA alpine skier broke her left leg Sunday after crashing in the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. The 41-year-old was competing despite tearing her ACL in the same leg just over a week prior in a World Cup race. Photographs taken by Jacquelyn Martin of The Associated Press capture Vonn’s right ski pole hitting the fourth gate as she went airborne off of a jump just seconds into her run. The contact appeared to throw Vonn off-balance, twisting her body sideways mid-air before she crashed hard into the course at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Vonn remained on the ground for several minutes before being airlifted off the course. She underwent surgery later Sunday to stabilize the injury, regional governor Luca Zaia announced. The Ca’ Foncello hospital also confirmed Vonn’s surgery in a statement to the Associated Press. Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist and the only U.S. woman to ever win downhill gold, was trying to become the oldest alpine skier, woman or man, to medal at the Games. The St. Paul, Minnesota, native had hung up the skis in 2019 due to injuries. But, following right knee replacement surgery in 2024, she aimed to make it back to the Olympic stage for a fifth and final time — and she succeeded. Vonn recorded seven combined World Cup podium finishes in the 2025-26 season, establishing herself as a serious Olympic medal contender. Then, just nine days before her official return to the Games, Vonn ruptured her ACL in a crash in her final pre-Olympics downhill race. 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics 15 hours ago Did Lindsey Vonn's torn ACL play a role in her crash? 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics 16 hours ago Before Vonn's crash, Iranian coach called the American her ‘superhero' — and hoped to get her pin 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics 20 hours ago Fans react on social media after Lindsey Vonn's Olympic downhill crash The serious injury didn’t stop Vonn from giving it a go in Italy, though. Sporting a knee brace, Vonn took part in both downhill training sessions ahead of Sunday’s medal event. She recorded the 11th-best time in the first session before posting the third-best time in the second session. Fellow American Breezy Johnson won the downhill event for Team USA’s first medal of the 2026 Games. ...read more read less