Lindsey Vonn is “stable” after enduring a horror crash on her Olympic return in the women’s downhill and was airlifted to hospital, nine days after rupturing her ACL.
Downhill is the 41-year-old’s speciality and she boasts an Olympic gold medal in the event, which she won at Vancouver 2010, but hopes of a victorious comeback six years on from retirement had been catastrophically hit by a serious knee injury suffered less than a fortnight out from the finals.
She opted to compete regardless of the injury but that horrifically backfired as she wiped out on the Cortina slopes. Replays of the crash show her shoulder catch a gate, her left foot twisting out - her left knee is the one with the ruptured ACL - and crashing very badly, rolling over several times.
She was put on a stretcher and airlifted to hospital on a day of mixed emotions for the American team, as Vonn’s close friend and teammate Breezy Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, took gold on the Olympia delle Tofane slope.
Germany’s Emma Aicher took silver, four-hundredths of a second off the pace, with home favourite Sofia Goggia coming home 0.59 seconds back for bronze.
Follow all the latest updates and results from the women’s downhill in our live blog below:
Winter Olympics live
- American skier Breezy Johnson won gold after Lindsey Vonn crashed hard in women's downhill
- Vonn suffered a serious knee injury less than two weeks out from the event but chose to compete
- The American had to be airlifted directly off the slopes out of Cortina but is 'stable'
- The legendary skier, 41, was making her return six years after retiring from the sport
- Germany's Emma Aicher and Italy's home favourite Sofia Goggia got silver and bronze respectively
Lindsey Vonn ‘stable’ after horror crash in Winter Olympics downhill on return from ACL rupture
16:45 , Will CastleHere’s the full story surrounding Lindsey Vonn’s crash following the update on her condition:
American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is ‘stable’ after crashing hard in the Winter Olympics downhill event, nine days after rupturing her ACL.
The 41-year-old was the 13th of 36 racers to take to the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she has won a record 12 World Cups.
But she crashed hard in the top section of the course at approximately 60mph after overshooting a turn and catching her shoulder on the fourth gate, having already picked up significant speed. That set her off balance, with her injured left leg – which has no functioning ACL – giving way.
Medics attended to her shortly after and she was put on a stretcher and airlifted to hospital while the competition was paused. It eventually resumed around 20 minutes later.
US Ski & Snowboard initially said she “will be evaluated by medical staff” but have since provided a more significant update on her condition.
“Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” the team wrote.
Vonn suffers horror crash in Winter Olympics downhill on return from ACL rupture
Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds maintain perfect run in quest for Olympic glory and redemption
17:20 , Chris WilsonJen Dodds and Bruce Mouat have been here before, but this time they are determined to take their chance.
Britain’s mixed doubles curling pair guaranteed themselves a medal match after beating major rivals Canada and the United States to extend their winning run to a perfect seven.
Those victories secured a place in the semi-finals regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s matches against Switzerland and Italy, the latter a repeat of last year’s world final, which they lost narrowly.
Mouat and Dodds maintain perfect run in quest for Olympic glory and redemption
Lindsey Vonn is superhuman and her Winter Olympics act of bravery reveals her defining trait
17:00 , Flo CliffordAs Lindsey Vonn was airlifted off the slope at Crans-Montana nine days ago it looked like her hopes of a fourth Olympic medal were over. Those hopes had already looked unlikely a season and a half ago when she made her comeback after six years’ retirement. But she had proved everyone wrong multiple times already; it would be foolish to expect her not to do so again.
The Crans-Montana crash left her with a completely ruptured ACL in her left knee, a bone bruise and meniscus damage. It is only the latest in a litany of broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries which have punctuated her career.
In her final race before retirement, the world championships downhill in 2019, she wore two knee braces to stabilise a torn lateral collateral ligament, three tibia fractures and a bone bruise. All of that couldn’t prevent her from winning bronze. In the 2013 world championships she tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee and fractured her tibia; later in 2013 she partially tore her right ACL again.
Vonn is superhuman and her Winter Olympics act of bravery reveals her defining trait
What is an ACL?
16:46 , Flo CliffordVonn completely ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a crash in Crans-Montana nine days ago.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a band of tissue in the knee which is crucial for maintaining strength and stability. It connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), providing rotational stability.
An ACL injury is common in sports where athletes need to pivot, and are often immediately obvious from a ‘popping’ sensation, causing swelling and pain, and destabilising the knee. ACL tears often require reconstructive surgery and necessitate a lengthy recovery time.
Across the Games
16:40 , Chris WilsonA few more medal events are taking place today, with the men's speed skating 5000m, men's luge and team figure skating all taking place across the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
The men's skiathlon took place earlier and ended in a gold medal for Norway's Johannes Klaebo, with GB’s Andrew Musgrave in 10th.
The mixed doubles pairing of Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat are in action again this evening too, facing home favourites Italy at 6.05pm in what is a rematch of last year's World Championships final, which the Italians won.
Vonn 'stable' after sustaining injury
16:31 , Will CastleThe US Ski & Snowboard Team have released an update on Lindsey Vonn’s condition.
“Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians,” it reads.
Update: Lindsey Vonn sustained an injury, but is in stable condition and in good hands with a team of American and Italian physicians.
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) February 8, 2026
Who is Lindsey Vonn: 41-year-old American skier with ruptured ACL at Milan 2026
16:20 , Chris WilsonAs we wait for updates on how Vonn is doing, here’s a profile of the 2010 Olympic gold medallist:
Who is Lindsey Vonn: 41-year-old American skier with ruptured ACL at Milan 2026
How fast was Lindsey Vonn going when she crashed?
16:00 , Will CastleWhen Lindsey Vonn wiped out just 13 seconds into her run at Cortina, she hadn’t been going long enough for the speed gun to appear on the broadcast.
But judging by how fast other skiers were going at that point on the course, it’s understood that she was moving at approximately 100kph (60mph) when she crashed.
Just brutal.
Wiles: 'Lindsey has been a huge mentor for all of us'
15:45 , Will CastleAnother team-mate, fourth-placed Jacqueline Wiles, spoke of Lindsey Vonn's influence over the squad.
She said: "I'm still processing a lot, after what happened with Lindsey. She looks hurt quite a bit. So I'm really happy, proud of Breezy and my heart hurts for Lindsey.
"It sucks for her. We're such a tight group. Lindsey has really been a huge mentor for all of us and seeing her go down like that, it really sucks.
"It doesn't change anything about her legacy. She's a fighter and that's the way that she's going to go out and ski every time."
Gold-medallist Johnson: 'My heart goes out to Vonn'
15:30 , Will CastleBreezy Johnson took the title but some of her first thoughts were for fellow American Lindsey Vonn after her triumph was confirmed.
She said: "My heart goes out to her. I hope it's not as bad as it looked.
"I know how difficult it is to ski this course and how sometimes, because you love this course so much, when you crash on it and hurts you like that, it hurts that much worse.
"My heart just goes out to her."
Thoughts with Andorra's Cande Moreno
15:15 , Will CastleOf course, Lindsey Vonn was not the only one to crash hard today.
Andorra’s last starter Cande Moreno lost control and wiped out badly on the slopes, crashing into the fence.
She looked in a bad way - not as bad as Vonn, with the Andorran at one point able to sit up - but she was nevertheless airlifted off the mountain.
Austria’s Nina Ortlieb also crashed but, luckily, she was able to get back to her feet and ski down to the bottom.
Bell: 'I would have done the exact same thing in Vonn's position'
15:00 , Will Castle“I had Vonn down for a medal. I would have done the exact same thing in Vonn's position, I would have raced,” said Graham Bell.
“It can be done, she was doing it, she was fast in training, she took the risk and it didn't pay off.
“Let's hope Vonn is OK.”
Vonn's sister says no update yet
14:45 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn’s family were in attendance at the bottom of the hill and her sister, Karin Kildow, says she has not received any further information on the American’s crash.
"That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see," Kildow told NBC. "It happened quick, so when that happens, you’re just like immediately hoping she’s OK.
"It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign, but we were just saying - like the man in the arena - she just dared greatly, and she put it all out there. So it’s really hard to see, but we just really hope she’s OK.
"She always goes 110 percent. There’s never anything less, so I know she put her whole heart into it and sometimes, things happen.
"It’s a very dangerous sport and there’s a lot of variables at play, so I don’t really know exactly what happened, but it did look like a pretty rough fall, so we’re just hoping for the best.
"I don’t really know what happens from here, obviously she was airlifted out, so I think we’ll probably just wait.
"She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I’m sure they’ll give us a report, and we’ll meet her at whatever hospital she’s at.
"I think she’s being evaluated right now, [it] is the only thing we’ve heard, so hopefully we hear more soon."
Medallists get their moment
14:30 , Will Castle
‘My heart aches for her’ - Breezy Johnson
14:15 , Flo CliffordGold medalist Breezy Johnson is speaking in her press conference now.
She says: “My heart aches for her. It’s a tough road and it’s a tough sport. That’s the beauty and the madness of it, that it can hurt you so badly but you keep coming back for more.”
Johnson in the mix for double gold
14:00 , Flo CliffordNewly crowned Olympic downhill champion Breezy Johnson will be one of the favourites for another gold medal later in the Games, as she is expected to partner another skiing legend, Mikaela Shiffrin, in the Alpine combined. The pair won the event in the 2025 world championships in Saalbach, Austria.
Alpine combined consists of one downhill and one slalom race.
Vonn had been among the possible contenders to take part but her chances are now over after that crash.
'I can only thank you for what she has done for our sport'
13:45 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn had said this would be her final Olympics appearance and International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) president Johan Eliasch thanked her for her contribution to the sport.
"Tragic, but it's ski racing I'm afraid. I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport, because this race has been the talk of the Games and it's put our sport in the best possible light,” he said.
"I hope she will have a speedy recovery and be back on skis very soon.
"She will be sent to a hospital, either locally or further away depending on the injury, which I have no details on."
Asked whether some felt Vonn should not have been allowed to race with her injury, Eliasch added: "Well then they don't know Lindsey. That's all I can say."
Vickhoff Lie: I wouldn't be surprised if Vonn suddenly shows up on the start gate at the World Cup
13:30 , Will CastleAfter the crash, the celebration for the medalists was held and fellow skiers thought about Lindsey Vonn's legacy.
"She has been my idol since I started watching ski racing," said Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway.
"We still have a World Cup to do after Olympics ... I wouldn't be surprised if she suddenly shows up on the start gate, but the crash didn't look good."
You really can’t write Vonn off - after all, she competed today with half her knee effectively hanging off. But the visuals were damning today.
USA’s Breezy Johnson wins Olympic women’s downhill as Lindsey Vonn crashes out
13:15 , Flo CliffordAmerican Breezy Johnson won the Olympic women’s downhill title in Cortina d’Ampezzo on a mixed day for the US team, as teammate Lindsey Vonn suffered a horror crash.
Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, was the sixth racer to set off and she set the time to beat with a risky, attacking run on the Olympia delle Tofane slope.
She finished in 1.36:10 and would not be overhauled, winning the first medal of the Games for Team USA.
Johnson, a friend of Vonn’s, was emotional throughout the second half of the race, with her victory overshadowed by the 41-year-old’s serious crash.
USA’s Breezy Johnson wins Olympic women’s downhill as Lindsey Vonn crashes out
Breezy crowned Olympic champion
13:05 , Will Castle
Maze: 'Lindsey wanted to do this no matter what'
12:45 , Will CastleDouble Olympic champion Tina Maze, speaking on Eurosport and TNT Sports coverage, said: “We all know the difficulties Lindsey was going through in the last days, and I think in the end she risked too much.
“This kind of crash can happen of course, if you are not healthy the consequences are even worse, but Lindsey wanted to do this no matter what. It's really tough for everyone here to see this especially for her family and teammates and everyone working with her. It's just terrible. A tough day.”
Alcott 'feels guilty' over reaction to horrific Vonn crash
12:40 , Will CastleBBC Sport commentator and former Alpine skier Chemmy Alcott said: “I feel guilty that I am this emotional. I just never believed it would end in a clump at the side of the piece not moving. What we saw that the top of the piece is really hard for a fit athlete, she just had her right knee. It is brutal, think about her family, her team and herself.
“We have to be realistic the risk was really high, the risk she takes when she falls will double that, her body will not be able to take that. There is clapping and there is hope that she would be okay but they have put up some background music because it is uncomfortable.”
Lindsey Vonn crashes out of Winter Olympics downhill on return from ACL rupture
12:35 , Flo CliffordAmerican skiing legend Lindsey Vonn crashed hard in the Winter Olympics downhill event, nine days on from rupturing her ACL.
The 41-year-old was the 13th of 36 racers to take to the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she has won a record 12 World Cups.
But she crashed hard in the top section of the course after overshooting a turn and catching her shoulder on the fourth gate, having already picked up significant speed. That set her off balance, with her injured left leg - which has no functioning ACL - giving way.
Full story here:
Lindsey Vonn crashes out of Winter Olympics downhill on return from ACL rupture
Breezy Johnson wins women's downhill
12:31 , Flo CliffordBreezy Johnson qualified for the US team for the Olympics in 2022, but missed it with an ACL injury. What a full-circle moment for the 30-year-old, who was utterly fearless on this course and has been well rewarded for it.
Lindsey Vonn update after airlifted off slopes
12:30 , Will CastleBBC’s Chemmy Alcott has provided an update on Lindsey Vonn following her horrific crash.
She says Vonn’s doctor who did her knee was here on the hill and was able to get in the helicopter with her.
The team are currently in Cortina but the hospital there doesn’t have what she needs. She is likely going over to Innsbruck.
Lindsay Vonn crashes hard in women's downhill
12:28 , Will CastleJohnson’s triumph will be a memorable one, but not for all the right reasons.
Heartbreakingly, her gold medal is not the big story of the day with Lindsey Vonn crashing hard on her Winter Olympic return, nine days after rupturing her ACL.
We’ll bring you all the latest updates on that story as they come.
Breezy Johnson wins women's downhill
12:27 , Flo CliffordHere’s the podium:
1) Breezy Johnson (USA) in 1:36.10
2) Emma Aicher (GER) +0.04
3) Sofia Goggia (ITA) +0.59
Breezy Johnson wins women's downhill
12:26 , Flo CliffordAnastasiia Shepilenko fails to challenge and Breezy Johnson is confirmed as the Olympic downhill champion!
“Huge bummer for Lindsey, hope she’s okay,” comes the rather flippant message on Team USA radio.
One athlete left
12:23 , Flo CliffordCzechia’s Alena Labastova goes 29th, and there’s only one athlete left to compete: Ukrainian Anastasiia Shepilenko.
“Awesome job, bravo, bravo,” is the German team’s message; talented youngster Emma Aicher will take silver here.
Two skiers to go
12:21 , Flo CliffordChile’s Matilde Schwencke slots into 27th, behind Gray.
19-year-old Nicole Begue of Argentina, the youngest in this race, is the third-last to go. She comes in 29th. None of these racers troubling the top 10.
Johnson remains in the lead
12:17 , Flo CliffordCzechia’s Elisa Maria Negri is next to go. This group of skiers is ranked lower down and are unlikely to trouble Johnson, but she must sit and wait nevertheless.
She finished nearly 10 seconds down at the bottom of the standings; Canada’s Cassidy Gray, a giant slalom specialist, goes into 26th position.
Johnson still comfortably leading the pack
12:10 , Will CastlePleshkova and Pohjolainen both complete their runs but don’t do much to threaten the upper echelons. Into 22nd and 24th they go.
Pleshkova up next
12:07 , Will CastleJulia Pleshkova will be next to come down the course.
Like Puchner after Vonn, it’s a horrible to be in position as you try and switch focus back to competition after seeing your peer airlifted off the slopes.
Break in competition
12:04 , Will CastleWe should be nearing the end of this second delay. It’s been a dramatic session, to say the least.
TNT Sports’ commentary team are beginning to lose their patience with their director, who keeps showing replays of the crashes.
Another skier airlifted
12:01 , Will CastleCande Moreno is being airlifted off the course - the second of the day.
Let’s hope this isn’t too serious for the Andorran.
Chemmy Alcott provides Lindsey Vonn update
12:00 , Will CastleBBC’s Chemmy Alcott has provided an update on Lindsey Vonn following her horrific crash.
She says Vonn’s doctor who did her knee was here on the hill and was able to get in the helicopter with her.
The team are currently in Cortina but the hospital there doesn’t have what she needs. She is likely going over to Innsbruck.
Cande Moreno crashes
11:57 , Will CastleThe live broadcast didn’t really show what happened to Moreno but we’ve got replays to see how she wiped out.
The Andorran made an aggressive jump but lost control, landing on her hip and rolling down the hill before crashing into the fence. Another really nasty one.
This is a tough old hill.
Cande Moreno crashes
11:55 , Will CastleThere’ll be another delay as Moreno is treated on the slopes.
She’s in obvious pain as she holds her leg, but this doesn’t look as bad as Vonn’s. She’s sitting up and is now being loaded onto the stretcher.
Another bad crash
11:53 , Will CastleSad to report there’s been another crash, and this one also looks nasty.
Andorra’s Cande Moreno wipes out coming down and is in a bad way as she is attended to.
Cerutti can't recover from poor start
11:51 , Will CastleFar too much time given away from the start for Camille Cerutti, who gave herself an uphill task (ironically) to recover the run.
She did well to finish it entirely, just about staying up as she went around a tight corner.
She drops into 23rd, over four seconds off the pace.
Easy watching for Johnson
11:49 , Will CastleIsabella Wright struggles for consistency on her run despite a strong start, going into Inter 1 level with Johnson.
She gives a lot of time away from mid-course to the end, however, and crosses the line in 22nd.
Shake of the head from France's Gauche
11:47 , Will CastleFrance’s Laura Gauche starts well and showing signs of a top 10 finish but her hopes are soon hit as she loses her line, pushing wide in the later turns.
A shake of the head after crossing the line. She’s in 13th.
No scares for the podium
11:44 , Will CastleTwo more runs come and go from Canada’s Valerie Grenier and Elvedina Muzaferija of Bosnia and Herzagovia, who fail to break the top 15.
Johnson, Aicher and home favourite Goggia make up first, second and third, with 14 more skiers to go.
Stuhec with a great escape
11:39 , Will CastleHuge flight midway through Ilka Stuhec’s run but the Slovene just about manages to survive, getting down the course.
Again, it’s no stress to Johnson with Stuhec unable to challenge the upper echelons.
Johnson sitting pretty
11:37 , Will CastleAggressive body language from France’s Romane Miradoli right from the start, keeping the gap at just 0.07s from Breezy Johnson at Inter 1.
But she stands a bit too tall as the run continues, failing to keep her intensity as her time gets slower and slower.
She finishes two seconds off the pace and is in 14th.
Another crash
11:33 , Will CastleOh god.
Nina Ortlieb of Austria wipes out on the turn and skids across the snow.
This time, luckily, the only real reaction is a pound of the ground in frustration. She’s back to her feet and skis down the rest of the course.
Wilde looks to challenge Johnson's top spot
11:32 , Will CastleSwitzerland’s Corine Suter fails to inspire in her run, falling to 12th. It’s Jackie Wilde of the USA next up - this could be a threat to Breezy Johnson’s top spot.
However, it’s not to be for the American who also takes something of a conservative approach to her run. That’s not how you win a medal.
USA still lead after Goggia misses chance
11:28 , Will CastleItaly’s Sofia Goggia started so well and looked set to give Breezy Johnson a real challenge at the top.
But a couple of wild flights in the mid-course saw her time hit and she wasn’t able to recover the run.
She misses out on first and second but creeps into third, 0.59s off the pace.
Puchner drops far down the order
11:25 , Will CastleYou can’t really blame Puchner for not putting in the performance of her life.
There was a bit of hesitation and she ends up coming in 1.55s behind leader Johnson, placing in ninth.
Austria's Puchner up next
11:23 , Will CastleAustrian skier Mirjam Puchner has the unenviable task of heading down the slopes first after a 20 minute delay.
Still waiting to get back underway
11:21 , Will CastleThis has been very tough to watch. God knows how the other skiers are coping with this right now.
The course is just getting double checked before we get back underway.
A reminder that Breezy Johnson leads the pack as of now. The American will have to show considerable mental fortitude to get her mind back on the slopes now and off worries for her countrywoman.
Vonn airlifted off the slopes
11:16 , Will CastleThis is just a horrible sight.
Vonn is onto the stretcher and airlifted out of Cortina. What a gut-wrenching way to end such an iconic Olympic career.
Break in competition
11:07 , Flo CliffordObviously, the competition is paused while the medics attend to Vonn.
Replays of the crash show her shoulder catch a gate, her left foot twisting out - her left knee is the one with the ruptured ACL - and crashing very hard, rolling over several times. Breezy Johnson and the rest of the American squad look distraught. This is just hideous.
Lindsey Vonn crashes
11:07 , Will CastleThe athletes at the top look absolutely dejected. Their heads are bowed as they wait the lengthy delay for Vonn to be treated and cleared. But the delay will be the last thing on their minds.
Nasty crashes are a peril of the sport, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult to watch. Praying for her recovery.
Lindsey Vonn crashes
11:04 , Flo CliffordThis is just horrific. Vonn is screaming in agony as she’s helped onto a stretcher. We can only hope this is not as serious as it immediately appears.
Lindsey Vonn crashes
11:02 , Flo CliffordIt takes the medical team an absolute age to get to her. That looked absolutely hideous.
Lindsey Vonn crashes
11:01 , Flo CliffordOh my god, Vonn barely gets out of the gate and crashes hard. The entire arena holds its breath. She isn’t able to get up yet.
Lindsey Vonn in the start gate
11:00 , Flo CliffordThe moment we’ve been waiting for... Vonn sets off.
“The snow is really responsive. Keep charging, keep pushing,” is Johnson’s message to her teammate.
Vonn up next
10:59 , Flo CliffordGermany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann is next to go - can she emulate younger teammate Aicher’s superb run?
It’s not the tidiest line and it’s a tad more conservative than the likes of Johnson... it’s only enough for seventh.
Now for Vonn!
USA still lead
10:57 , Flo CliffordAustrian favourite Cornelia Huetter is up next, a tenth of a second quicker in the top section... but starting to lose time now.
Huetter goes into provisional third, 0.86 seconds slower than Johnson.
Now onto the last racer before Vonn...
Aicher four-hundredths slower
10:54 , Flo CliffordOh my word, she goes four-hundredths of a second slower than Johnson! She went for a risky approach and it got a bit loose in the second half. Johnson breathes a huge sigh of relief in the leader’s chair.
Germany's Emma Aicher up next
10:53 , Flo CliffordHugely talented German youngster Emma Aicher, who has been on the World Cup podium in three disciplines so far this season - including winning the St Moritz downhill - is next to go.
She’s going quicker than anyone else so far...
Johnson remains in the lead
10:52 , Flo CliffordFive racers until Vonn enters the start gate...
Norway’s Lie gets a green light over Johnson early in her run but just loses time, tightening up late in the run, and goes third, 0.98 seconds down on the American’s time.
Italy's Pirovano into second
10:49 , Flo CliffordSo far most of the skiers have got the line wrong right at the top of course, and another Italian, Laura Pirovano, is next to make that mistake... but she’s keeping the deficit to Johnson minimal and seems to be finding her flow.
Into second! 0.94 seconds off Johnson’s time, and that pushes her teammate Brignone off the provisional podium.
Italy's Delago goes fourth
10:47 , Flo CliffordErrors aplenty for Nicol Delago and she goes into fourth, 1.55 seconds down on Johnson.
Johnson into the lead
10:44 , Flo CliffordBreezy Johnson goes for a very risky and ekes out 0.14 worth of an advantage... it’s not perfect but she continues to build on her lead and she’s into the lead! 1.10 seconds ahead of Raedler!
Breezy Johnson up next
10:43 , Flo CliffordSwitzerland’s Janine Schmitt goes into third, a second a half down on Raedler.
Reigning downhill world champion Breezy Johnson is up next, the first of the real favourites and first of the Americans. She won the second training run.
“Just carry a tiny little bit more with touch of higher speed,” is the radio message from the team.
Raedler leads
10:40 , Flo CliffordSwitzerland’s Jasmine Flury makes a mistake and loses her line for a moment, and that’s her chances gone. She looks gutted.
Italy into second
10:37 , Flo CliffordBrignone goes 0.09 seconds slower! The Italian crowd roars its approval and she punches the air, happy with that nevertheless after her recent struggles.
This is probably her worst event of the three she competes in so she’ll be full of confidence now for the rest of the Games after a decent run.
Italy's Brignone up next
10:36 , Flo CliffordAustria’s Ariane Raedler flies down a huge 1.57 seconds quicker than Blanc, an impressive attacking run, and she seems more than happy with that.
Up next is home hope and three-time Olympic medallist Federica Brignone, who suffered a triple leg break at the end of last season but is certainly one to watch.
Women's downhill underway
10:33 , Flo Clifford1.38.77 is the time Malorie Blanc sets; she doesn’t seem too thrilled and makes a cut-throat gesture at the finish.
Vonn is going 13th of the 36 racers today.
Underway in Cortina d'Ampezzo
10:30 , Flo CliffordLindsey Vonn is spotted, she fist-bumps someone on her walk up the slope.
Switzerland’s Maloric Blanc is the first skier to go. “Full throttle, we go all in, attack!” comes the team message on the radio.
Women's downhill
10:28 , Flo CliffordIt’s a stunning day in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the conditions look perfect.
A reminder of the Olympia delle Tofane course: it’s 2,572m in length, with a 760m vertical drop, starting altitude of 2,320m and finish altitude of 1,560m. The athletes must go through 36 gates as they rocket down to the bottom.
Not long to go!
10:25 , Will CastleWe are five minutes out from the women’s downhill getting underway in Cortina!
Stay tuned for all the action, including Lindsey Vonn’s run, right here.
Who are the top contenders?
10:20 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn may be the big story surrounding this event, but the fact remains that she will have to pull off something of a miracle to get on the podium with a ruptured ACL.
So, we turn our attention to the contenders.
Sofia Gogg joins Vonn as the other former Olympic champions in Cortina, while world champion Breezy Johnson is among the favourites.
Experienced German duo Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, second and third in the discipline rankings respectively, are also in with a good shout while Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie - previously twice on the podium in Cortina -and in-form Austrian Nina Ortlieb lead the outsiders.
Lindsey Vonn racing at Winter Olympics with torn ACL ‘definitely doable’, claims ex-champion
10:16 , Will CastleOlympic champion Lindsey Vonn is set for an extraordinary return to the slopes for the Winter Games, just days after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), with fellow American and former teammate Julia Mancuso declaring such a feat "definitely doable".
"Normally it happens in the beginning of the season and they have a lot of time to strength train and test it out," Mancuso, who is the same age as Vonn at 41, shared on Instagram.
"This is going to be unique because she’s going to be testing it in the training runs and we’re going to be watching it and experiencing it live with her."
Racing without an ACL, relying solely on a brace, "can be very difficult, but it’s definitely doable, especially with no swelling," Mancuso explained, acknowledging Vonn’s own admission that she would not be the same athlete as before the crash.
"She’s still going to try and do her best," Mancuso affirmed. "I think we’re going to live that experience with her ... hoping she can find the strength to finish the downhill course and hopefully get a good result."
Vonn racing at Winter Olympics with torn ACL ‘definitely doable’, claims ex-champion
Lindsey Vonn vows to ‘stand tall’ as Team USA braces for frosty Winter Olympics reception amid ICE protests
10:09 , Will Castle"I realise the magnitude of the position that I'm in right now," Lindsey Vonn said.
"And I think the best thing I can do is to do exactly what I said. Stand tall and have hope. And show the world what America is, who we are as people. Because we are more than what's happening right now.
"I always do my best to make our country proud. And I hope I can do that in these Games."
Vonn vows to ‘stand tall’ as Team USA braces for frosty Winter Olympics reception
Today's schedule
10:02 , Will CastleAlpine skiing
- 10.30am–12.50pm: Women's downhill 🏅
Biathlon
- 1.05pm–2.40pm: Mixed relay 4x6km 🏅
Cross-country skiing
- 11.30am–1pm: Men's 10km+10km skiathlon 🏅
Curling
- 9.05am–11.05am: Mixed doubles round robin
- 1.35pm-3.35pm: Mixed doubles round robin
- 6.05pm–8.05pm: Mixed doubles round robin
Figure skating
- 6.30pm–10.05pm: Team event (pairs free skating, women's singles free skating, men's singles free skating) 🏅
Ice hockey
- 3.40pm–6.10pm: Women's preliminary round
- 8.10pm–10.40pm: Women's preliminary round
Luge
- 4pm–6.40pm: Men's singles runs 3 and 4 🏅
Snowboarding
- 8am–10am: Men's parallel giant slalom qualification, Women's parallel giant slalom qualification
- 12pm–1.40pm: Men's parallel giant slalom final 🏅 Women's parallel giant slalom final 🏅
- 6.30–8.45pm: Women's snowboard big air qualification
Speed skating
- 3pm–5.20pm: Men's 5000m 🏅
Anti-ICE backlash and Vance’s presence fail to chill enthusiasm as USA get Winter Olympics underway
09:55 , Flo CliffordOn the eve of the Winter Olympics, IOC president Kirsty Coventry issued a statement designed to ward off complex matters of geopolitics from intervening in the festival of sport.
“We understand politics and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments,” she said.
Of course that statement was in itself political. An emphasis on remaining neutral was the clearest signal yet that Russia could be welcomed back into the Olympic fold, while it was also a non-comment on the continued participation of Israel at the Games, and a conciliatory hand extended to the American organisers of the next Olympics just two years away, despite the US administration’s brutality against its own citizens in Minneapolis.
Protests have broken out in Milan at the role of ICE agents in policing the Games; they are unlikely to have felt calmed by vice president JD Vance’s refusal this week to apologise to the family of Alex Pretti, who was gunned down by federal agents last month. “For what?” was his flippant response.
The level of perceived anti-American feeling is such that Coventry was asked in another pre-Olympic press conference whether it was understandable for spectators to boo American athletes.
Anti-ICE backlash and Vance’s presence fail to chill enthusiasm for USA fans
Lindsey Vonn hits back at doctor who raised doubts over ACL rupture
09:48 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn has forcefully dismissed suggestions from a sports doctor questioning the severity of her recent knee injury, ahead of Sunday's Olympic downhill race.
"What was the state of her ACL before the crash last week?" sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer queried. "What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline.
“When you hear stories about 'So and so played for years on a torn ACL', that's chronic, meaning the body has time to adapt and retrain muscles to support the knee."
Vonn, who currently leads the World Cup downhill standings and has secured two victories this season, hit back: "Lol thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn't mean it's not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It's 100% gone."
Lindsey Vonn hits back at doctor who raised doubts over ACL rupture
Lindsey Vonn’s coach explains why she still has Winter Olympics medal hope despite ACL rupture
09:41 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn’s coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, believes the American’s formidable mental strength will be key to overcoming recent injury woes and securing another Olympic medal in Sunday’s women’s downhill event in Cortina.
"She knows she’ll have to push harder tomorrow, because the rest of the girls will, and it’s the Olympic downhill. You’re not going to get away with a medal here unless you push hard,” he said.
"Good enough to win this race, hopefully. But her mental strength, I think that’s why she has won as much as she has.”
Vonn’s coach explains why she still has Olympic medal hope despite ACL rupture
Lindsey Vonn at the Olympics
09:34 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn was expected to be one of the biggest stars at this year’s events as she has a storied history at the Winter Olympics - dating back to Salt Lake City in 2002, over two decades ago.
She also competed at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 and 2018. In 2010, in Vancouver she took home the gold medal for the women’s Alpine downhill.
Vonn announced her retirement in 2018 and said she would hang up her skis competitively the next year as "Physically, I've gotten to the point where it doesn't make sense…”
Five years later, in 2024, Vonn announced her return to the sport competitively after successful knee replacement surgery.
How did Lindsey Vonn get injured?
09:19 , Will CastleOn Friday 30 January in Switzerland, Lindsey Vonn crashed in a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
She was later taken to the hospital and after three days of physical therapy and doctors’ advice, Vonn skied on Tuesday before talking to the press.
“My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday," Vonn said.
“So this is not obviously what I had hoped for. I know what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today but I know there’s still a chance. And as long as there’s a chance, I will try.
“I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate."
When does Lindsey Vonn compete? Start time and how to watch women's downhill
09:04 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn has already taken to the slopes with her injured knee, surviving practice on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The final session, when the medals will be decided, will take place on Sunday 8 February (today), beginning at 10:30am GMT.
Viewers in the UK can watch the action on TNT Sports and discovery+, with coverage starting at 10am.
Lindsey Vonn is superhuman and her Winter Olympics act of bravery reveals her defining trait
08:49 , Flo CliffordAs Lindsey Vonn was airlifted off the slope at Crans-Montana nine days ago it looked like her hopes of a fourth Olympic medal were over. Those hopes had already looked unlikely a season and a half ago when she made her comeback after six years’ retirement. But she had proved everyone wrong multiple times already; it would be foolish to expect her not to do so again.
The Crans-Montana crash left her with a completely ruptured ACL in her left knee, a bone bruise and meniscus damage. It is only the latest in a litany of broken bones, concussions, and other serious injuries which have punctuated her career.
In her final race before retirement, the world championships downhill in 2019, she wore two knee braces to stabilise a torn lateral collateral ligament, three tibia fractures and a bone bruise. All of that couldn’t prevent her from winning bronze. In the 2013 world championships she tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee and fractured her tibia; later in 2013 she partially tore her right ACL again.
That only skims the surface; the thought of what else she could have achieved without those misfortunes probably keeps her rivals up at night.
And now, with one titanium knee - a knee replacement having fixed the pain that drove her to retire - and one completely destabilised one, she is still going.
Winter Olympics live: Lindsey Vonn battles through ACL rupture in women’s downhill
Lindsey Vonn battles through ACL rupture in women’s downhill - live
08:41 , Will CastleLindsey Vonn will take to the Cortina slopes with a ruptured ACL as she battles for a medal against all the odds in the women’s downhill.
The race marks the return of the legendary American skier, six years after she retired from the sport.
Downhill is the 41-year-old’s speciality and boasts an Olympic gold medal in the event, which she won at Vancouver 2010, but hopes of a victorious comeback have been catastrophically hit by a serious knee injury suffered less than a fortnight out from the finals.
While the setback looked certain to rule her out entirely, Vonn has pushed on with teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, one of only two women more successful at World Cup level than four-time winner Vonn, saying: “If anyone can do it, she can do it.”
She’ll face stiff competition for a place on the podium, however, with the aptly named Breezy Johnson leading the field as 2025 world champion, while World Cup champion Federica Brignone hopeful to bring host nation Italy a medal.
Good morning
08:40 , Will CastleHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the women’s downhill finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and action from the slopes, right here!
