Lindsey Vonn’s courageous gamble for Olympic glory may have ended horribly for the American star, but she remains an icon of alpine skiing after a storied career filled with unforgettable highs and devastating setbacks.
Vonn’s medal hopes at the Milan-Cortina Olympics were dashed after a serious accident on Sunday’s descent that ended with her being stretchered to a helicopter in what was supposed to be Vonn’s greatest comeback.
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Vonn buried her face in the snow and rushed like a rag doll down the Olimpia del Tofane ski slopes in Cortina d’Ampezzo, her skis still glued to her boots as she screamed in agony.
With the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee rupturing before the Olympics and her other knee having a titanium implant, Vonn looked 41 years old in her Olympic career.
If Sunday’s crash becomes the final chapter of her career, Vonn will retire for a second time as one of the major sports figures of this century, joining her ex-boyfriend Tiger Woods.
She has a natural charisma and charisma in a sport full of personality, and has appeared on the covers of Time magazine and Sports Illustrated, attracting attention that immediately put her on the radar of a wider audience than just winter sports enthusiasts.
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This popularity, combined with charity work and a savvy social media presence, combined perfectly with enviable sporting prowess, has brought her three Olympic medals (one gold), eight World Championship medals (two gold) and four overall World Cup titles.
She retired after the 2019 World Championships in Alley, but what she called a “crazy” comeback last winter and a partial titanium knee replacement in April 2024 dramatically changed her prospects.
Not only did it allow her to make a painless return to competitive skiing after a six-year hiatus, but it also turned back the years and exceeded expectations by challenging—and sometimes surpassing—the top racers on the circuit.
-“Chasing your dream”-
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Vonn would have been a strong contender for the Cortina gold had he not suffered a ruptured ACL in the last World Cup downhill race (Crans-Montana) before the Olympics at the end of January.
Vonn had been on the podium at every downhill race prior to this season, including two wins at St. Moritz and Lake Zochen, the former making her the oldest ever World Cup race winner.
Only current teammate Mikaela Shiffrin (108) and former Swedish slalom specialist Ingmar Steinmark (86) have won more World Cups than Vonn (84).
In a sport where individuality doesn’t always stand out, Vonn has well and truly transcended that divide, even endearing himself to legions of fans in the central European skiing hotbeds of Austria and Switzerland with his fluency in German.
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In October, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the headline “Back” – a headline that showed how well she was skiing in the run-up to the Olympics.
“I’m still chasing my dreams, still pushing my limits, still believing that anything is possible,” she told the magazine.
“I hope everyone reading this will remember: never give up on yourself.”
However, Vonn may be forced to finally throw in the towel after Sunday’s events, where she has enjoyed much success on the slopes.
The first of her 12 wins in Cortina came in January 2008 on the downhill slopes. To illustrate the point, Sunday’s silver medalist Emma Eicher was just four years old at the time.
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“I’ve been through a lot and this is another amazing chapter,” Vonn said in announcing she would compete in the Olympics, her fifth since her junior debut in 2002.
“I don’t know if it’s the best chapter, but if I can pull it off, it’ll be a really good comeback.”
She didn’t make it, but the U.S. Ski Team said after Sunday’s accident that Vonn “will always be a #WinterOlympics legend.”
“Your legacy will always be with Team USA.”
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