U.S. alpine skier Lindsey Vonn has ruled herself out of the final women's World Cup super-G after suffering a knee injury in a downhill crash. The 41-year-old, a 2010 Olympic gold medalist, was taken to hospital following the incident in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Despite the setback, she insists her Olympic comeback dream remains alive.
On January 31, 2026, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, American alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn crashed during a women's World Cup downhill race, leading to its cancellation due to poor weather conditions. The 41-year-old skier, who was hospitalized with a knee injury, announced she would not compete in the subsequent super-G event scheduled for Saturday. Vonn, listed with bib number 15 for the race, shared her disappointment on Instagram.
“Unfortunately I won’t be able to race today…wishing all my teammates a great race,” Vonn posted. “Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me. Doing my best right now…”
Aiming for an Olympic comeback at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Vonn seeks to become the oldest medalist in the sport's history. The first training run for the women's Olympic downhill is set for Wednesday, February 8. As a 2010 Vancouver gold medalist in downhill, Vonn's participation in the Games now faces uncertainty, though she maintains optimism about her recovery.
The incident underscores the risks in high-speed alpine events, especially ahead of major competitions like the Olympics in Milan and Cortina. Vonn's resilience has been a hallmark of her career, marked by multiple World Cup titles and overcoming past injuries.