Lindsey Vonn has had a rough time lately. She pulled out of Saturday’s World Cup super-G race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, following a fall in the downhill event just a day earlier. Her Olympic future is now uncertain as she recovers.
During Friday’s downhill, Vonn lost balance and crashed into the netting. She lay there for a few minutes before slowly making her way down the hill. It was clear she was in pain, favoring her left leg. The next day, she shared on Instagram, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today… wishing all my teammates a great race.” Along with this message, she posted a video of her fall.
Vonn’s injury has raised questions about her participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The women’s downhill is set for February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, followed by the team combined and super-G events on February 10 and 12. Despite this setback, Vonn remains hopeful. She stated, “My Olympic dream is not over.”
Her coach, Chris Knight, told the Associated Press that they are focused on preparing for Cortina. However, there was no significant update on Vonn’s condition in her social media posts, apart from saying, “Doing my best right now.”
The downhill race on Friday had only six competitors since it was canceled due to poor visibility right after her fall. Unfortunately, three racers crashed, including another competitor who fell at the same spot as Vonn. Saturday’s super-G race went ahead under sunny skies, but challenges remained. Germany’s Emma Aicher, who won four World Cups, also crashed on that tricky turn.
In a heartwarming moment, Switzerland’s Malorie Blanc celebrated her first World Cup win in front of her home crowd. This victory came during a weekend when the community mourned a tragic New Year’s fire at a local bar, which claimed 40 lives and injured many more. Vonn and her fellow racers wore black armbands to honor the victims.
In the super-G, Italian star Sofia Goggia was just 0.18 seconds behind Blanc, taking second place, while American Breezy Johnson secured third, marking her first super-G podium.
Looking back at Vonn’s journey, she made a remarkable comeback in 2024 after retiring in 2019 due to injuries. A knee replacement earlier that year brought her back to pain-free skiing, and she made a strong return to the World Cup circuit. Vonn quickly showcased her talent again, finishing in the top ten for every race she completed this season.
With 84 World Cup wins, Vonn is just behind Mikaela Shiffrin and Ingemar Stenmark in the all-time rankings. This year, she won two downhills, including the season opener in St. Moritz, proving she remains a fierce competitor. If she manages to compete, she will be a strong contender for medals at the Olympics.
Interestingly, a recent social media post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted how Vonn’s crash affected Olympic betting odds. It commented, “The public bet on the narrative, but physics had the final say.” Vonn humorously replied, “No, I have the final say,” showing her resilience and fighting spirit.
As the countdown to the Olympics continues, we’re all hoping to see Vonn back in action, proving once again that she’s a champion in more ways than one.
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