Lindsey Vonn airlifted to hospital after crashing out of Olympic downhill race

Lindsey Vonn’s fifth and final Olympics has ended in the one way everyone dreaded. Moments into her run in the women’s downhill, Vonn’s leg failed her as she came over a hill; she twisted and crashed sideways to the ground.

After a first stunned burst of shouts and screams, the atmosphere around the Olimpia delle Tofane downhill piste fell deadly quiet while the medical team gathered around her. Fifteen minutes later, Vonn was airlifted from the mountain to hospital for emergency treatment. Her friend and teammate, Breezy Johnson, watching from the leader’s seat, covered her eyes.

As Vonn’s helicopter flew overhead, the crowd around the mountain broke into applause for her, the most decorated Alpine skier in the history of the sport. But the disruption to the race was a challenge for the competitors lining up behind her, who included the home favourite, Sofia Goggia.

Johnson’s time of 1:36:10 proved enough to win the gold medal, with Germany’s Emma Aicher just 0.04 seconds behind in silver. Goggia had to settle for third while another competitor, Andorra’s Cande Moreno Becerra, also had to be airlifted away after a heavy crash.

Lindsey Vonn crashes early in her run down the Olimpia delle Tofane piste. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Vonn, 41, was the first forty-something to ever start an Olympic downhill race, and was competing here even after she had ruptured the ACL in her left knee while racing in Switzerland last week. “There’s still a chance,” she said earlier this week, “and as long as there is a chance I will try”.

She had successfully completed two downhill training runs here on Friday and Saturday, but the accident leaves questions about her decision to enter these Olympic Games in that condition.

“In the end she risked too much,” said the double Olympic champion Tina Maze, commentating on TNT Sports. “That’s the kind of crash that can happen, of course if you are not healthy the consequences are even worse, but Lindsey wanted to do this, no matter what. I

“It’s really tough for everyone here to see this, especially for her family and teammates, everyone working with her every day. It’s just terrible. A tough day.”