Lindsey Vonn in table condition following operation on leg fractured in Olympic downhill

Lindsey Vonn has had surgery on a broken leg following her devastating crash in the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026 women’s downhill race.

The U.S. Alpine skiing superstar was airlifted to a clinic in Cortina after falling just seconds into her run on Sunday (8 February), before being transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso.

Ca’ Foncello Hospital said in a statement: “Lindsey Vonn underwent orthopaedic surgery to stabilise a fracture in her left leg.“

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team confirmed Vonn was in a “stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians“.

Lindsey Vonn's Olympic medal dream dashed in 13 seconds

Vonn, who won downhill gold at Vancouver 2010, was defiantly competing at Milano Cortina 2026 despite rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Switzerland nine days earlier, a crash which also led to her being rescued by helicopter.

However, the 41-year-old’s Olympic medal dream died just 13 seconds into her run, as she lost control after clipping a gate with her right shoulder, before cartwheeling down the slope.

Vonn could be heard screaming in pain, with the race halted for more than 10 minutes while medics treated her before she was airlifted away.

Her sister Karin Kildow told NBC: “It's hard to believe. We just hope she will be OK.”

Breezy Johnson: “Lindsey was cheering for me from the helicopter”

The Olympic women’s downhill race was won by Breezy Johnson, who became Team USA’s first champion in the event since Vonn 16 years ago.

“I don’t claim to know what she’s going through, but I do know what it is to be here, to be fighting for the Olympics, and to have this course burn you and to watch those dreams die,” said Johnson, who was ruled out of Beijing 2022 after rupturing her ACL following a crash in Cortina.

“I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through and it’s not the physical pain — we can deal with physical pain — but the emotional pain is something else.”

In her postrace news conference, Johnson said Vonn's coach told her that: “Lindsey was cheering for me from the helicopter.”

Legends pay tribute to Vonn following crash

Vonn’s crash on Sunday led to an outpouring of support from across the world of sport.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said: “Dear Lindsey, we're all thinking of you. You are an incredible inspiration, and you will always be an Olympic champion.”

“It's tragic,” said International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch, who was present at the race. “But what can I say? It's ski racing and knowing Lindsey, I wouldn't count her out for [French Alps] 2030.”

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal was another to offer encouragement, saying: “You are a great inspiration. Stay strong and get well soon.”

Vonn’s friend and fellow skiing legend Sofia Goggia, added: “I’m sorry that she was taken away by helicopter. I didn’t see any of it. They told me the crash was not that good. I just give her my best wishes.”

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