Lindsey Vonn Injured In Crans-Montana Downhill Crash As Olympic Hopes Hang In Balance

Under gray, overcast skies in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the women’s World Cup downhill on the notorious Mont Lachaux course was supposed to be a final tune-up for the world’s fastest skiers ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Instead, January 30, 2026, delivered a harrowing reminder of the sport’s risks, leaving athletes, coaches, and fans reeling from a series of crashes—most notably that of Lindsey Vonn, the reigning downhill tour leader and Olympic gold-medal favorite.

The day began with tension in the air and a sense of urgency on the snow. Due to a canceled training run, FIS rules required the race to start from a lower point on the course. Nina Ortlieb of Austria was first out of the gate but lost control in the second sector, crashing through multiple layers of safety netting. Miraculously, Ortlieb was able to stand, drawing cheers as she skied down to the finish under her own power, a testament to both her resilience and the crowd’s relief.

After a lengthy delay to repair the netting, France’s Romane Miradoli set the early benchmark on the shortened course with a time of 1:15.60. But the mood remained uneasy. Third down the hill, Norway’s Marte Monsen crashed hard near the finish and had to be evacuated by rescue sled, underscoring the treacherous conditions created by overnight cold and a slick, fast track.

Jacqueline Wiles of the United States, a key member of her country’s Olympic squad and podium finisher earlier in the season, attacked the course with her trademark aggression. She crossed the line 0.65 seconds faster than Miradoli, momentarily restoring a bit of competitive spirit to the proceedings. But the celebration was short-lived.

Bib 6 belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American superstar and overall leader in the women’s downhill standings, wearing the coveted red jersey. Vonn had returned to the sport in 2024 after a five-year retirement, becoming the oldest World Cup downhill winner and notching two victories and three other podiums this season. Her comeback has been nothing short of astonishing, especially after a partial right knee titanium replacement.

But as Vonn launched into her run, disaster struck about 20 seconds in. Coming off a jump in a right-hand corner on the upper portion of the course, she lost balance, her left arm and pole flailing in an attempt to regain control. Unable to recover, Vonn spun out across the snow at high speed, slamming into the safety netting. Race personnel rushed to her side as she remained tangled for several tense moments.

Eventually, Vonn was able to get up, but the pain was evident. She limped out of the fencing, favoring her left leg, and tried to ski down to the finish. Pausing several times to check her knee and steady herself with her poles, she made her way to the stadium, where she was met by a visibly emotional Jacqueline Wiles. The two embraced for a long moment, concern etched on their faces.

"We hope she's OK. We're not entirely sure, she's being examined," said Aksel Lund Svindal, Vonn’s coach and a two-time Olympic champion, to Austrian public television. "She's feeling a bit of pain in the left foot and left knee, but I'm feeling positive." The severity of Vonn’s injuries will only be known after further medical evaluation, but the timing could hardly be worse. Her crash came exactly one week before the Olympic opening ceremony, with the women’s downhill—where Vonn is a gold-medal favorite—scheduled for February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, a venue where she holds a record 12 World Cup wins.

The chaos on Mont Lachaux didn’t end with Vonn. By the time the timing screens showed only three finishers among the first six starters, with Ortlieb, Monsen, and Vonn all listed as DNFs, it was clear that the day was spiraling. World Champion Breezy Johnson of the U.S. was next to start, but before she could leave the gate, the race jury convened. With visibility deteriorating—snow was falling, and the flat light made it nearly impossible to see the race line—officials decided to cancel the event for safety reasons.

"The main reason is the safety of the athletes," explained Women’s World Cup Race Director Peter Gerdol. "The visibility was getting worse and worse. They couldn’t see the race line properly, and it caused mistakes. We saw six athletes starting and all six had some mistakes. This was a sign that it was a high-risk situation." Gerdol continued, "We know that our sport is a risky sport, but the feeling was too much risk. That’s why the Jury decided to stop the race." He also noted that the course had changed compared to the morning inspection, further complicating matters.

For the athletes, it was a bittersweet outcome. Wiles, who was leading when the race was called, acknowledged the disappointment but put things in perspective. "It’s sad that we had to cancel it," she said. "But with too many crashes, you want to make sure everyone stays safe. It’s really unfortunate, because I think everyone was excited to be out there." She added, "The speeds felt a little bit higher, some of the jumps felt bigger, and there were a few rattling spots. But that’s also normal race-day intensity. If the weather is getting worse and it’s going to become unsafe, then of course it’s the right call. At the end of the day, safety is more important."

Vonn’s own words from last fall now sound eerily prophetic. She had expressed reservations about the Crans-Montana race, citing its history of bad weather and injuries. "Historically there’s been difficulties with weather and snow condition and injuries specifically. So that will be probably the biggest concern I have, is Crans-Montana," she said. "If I have to race in that race, I will, but I’ll be very strategic about how I approach that."

As the snow kept falling and the course emptied, the disappointment was palpable—not just among the athletes, but also the fans, including large groups of schoolchildren who had come to witness the world’s best. Yet the overwhelming sentiment was relief that a potentially tragic day had not become worse.

Now, all eyes turn to Vonn’s recovery. Her crash, just days before the Olympics, has cast uncertainty over her participation in the women’s downhill, super-G, and team combined events. U.S. Skiing confirmed that Vonn is being evaluated, and her status for the Games remains in question. For a champion who has endured and overcome so much, the hope is that this latest setback will not deny her one more shot at Olympic glory.

As Peter Lange, publisher of Ski Racing Media and longtime coach, reflected: "In the end, the real value of this sport is the relationships you make, they are priceless." For Lindsey Vonn, her team, and her fans, the coming days will be filled with anxious waiting—and, perhaps, the hope for one more remarkable comeback.