Lindsey Vonn Airlifted After Crash Ends Olympic Comeback At Milan Cortina

Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn suffered a severe crash during Sunday’s women’s downhill at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and was airlifted by helicopter, ending her highly anticipated comeback. The 41-year-old American lost control after cutting the opening traverse too tight, spinning through the air before landing hard. Vonn screamed that she couldn’t remove her skis as medical personnel surrounded her. A mandatory safety airbag under her racing suit may have softened the impact. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team confirmed Vonn “is in stable condition and in good hands with American and Italian physicians.” She had already ruptured her left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament nine days earlier in Switzerland. The stunned crowd gave her a standing ovation as the yellow helicopter departed. U.S. teammate Breezy Johnson won the race, saying “I hope it’s not as bad as it looked.”