Lindsey Vonn is recovering from surgery on a leg fracture after her Olympic comeback ended with her being airlifted to hospital following a terrifying crash in the women's downhill skiing final.
The 41-year-old American had already ruptured her ACL in a crash at a World Cup race in Switzerland on 30 January but was determined to compete at the Winter Olympics on Sunday nevertheless.
Just 13 seconds into her final run in Cortina, northern Italy, on Sunday, Vonn crashed on the piste, having clipped a slalom gate while mid-air.
The Team USA athlete was heard screaming after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel for several minutes.
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Vonn was then strapped to a gurney and flown to a hospital in Cortina by helicopter. She was later transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso.
In a statement, quoted on olympics.com on Sunday night, Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso said Vonn "underwent orthopaedic surgery to stabilise a fracture in her left leg".
Her team confirmed she was "in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians".
Anouk Patty, chief of sport for US Ski and Snowboard, said: "She'll be OK, but it's going to be a bit of a process.
"This sport's brutal and people need to remember when they're watching (that) these athletes are throwing themselves down a mountain and going really, really fast."
People in the crowd, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched as Vonn crashed and was taken away from the course. The skier's father was also in the stands and stared at the ground while she was being treated.
Vonn's teammate, Breezy Johnson, won the women's downhill, becoming the second American woman to take the Olympic downhill gold. Vonn was the first US woman to accomplish the feat.
Vonn was considered a medal hopeful despite her ruptured ACL and completed two impressive training runs earlier this week.
She had returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years in retirement, having had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee.
As well as the ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.
(c) Sky News 2026: Lindsey Vonn 'in stable condition' after terrifying crash at Winter Olympics
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