Vonn, 41, was airlifted to the hospital after crashing 13 seconds into her run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a week after she tore her ACL in competition
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NEED TO KNOW
- Lindsey Vonn’s dad spoke out after her scary crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics
- Vonn’s dad Alan Kildow said he wants this to be the end of her skiing career
- The 41-year-old skier was airlifted to the hospital after her crash and underwent surgery for a fracture
Lindsey Vonn’s dad wants her crash on Sunday to be a wake-up call.
One day after the alpine skier, 41, suffered a terrifying crash during the women’s downhill skiing final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, her father, Alan Kildow, told the Associated Press that he wants her to be done with the sport.
“She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,” Alan Kildow told the outlet on Monday, Feb. 9. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Vonn was hoping for an incredible comeback on Sunday when she got to the starting gate. After a knee replacement and a retirement in 2019, the five-time Olympian decided to compete one last time as the 2026 Games came to Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of her favorite courses. But a week before the competition, Vonn “completely” ruptured her ACL during a World Cup race.
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Still, she decided to compete at the Olympics on Sunday, and 13 seconds into her run Vonn clipped a course marker with her ski pole, pushing her off balance and sending her flying through the air before hitting the mountain. Vonn was airlifted off the course and flown to a hospital in Treviso, where she underwent surgery to stabilize a fracture in the same leg where she tore her ACL.
U.S. Ski & Snowboarding said Sunday, in a statement shared with PEOPLE, that Vonn was “stable.”
“Lindsey sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” the organization said.
Vonn’s sister also shared her thoughts on the skier’s crash with NBC, saying Sunday that the family is “hoping for the best” while waiting for further updates. “That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. It happened quick. So when that happens you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay,” Kildow said.
“It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, that is not a good sign.”
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.
Source: People
