American skier Lindsey Vonn is in stable condition at a hospital today after a high-speed crash during the Olympic downhill competition in Italy.
Vonn, 41, struck a gate with her shoulder and tumbled down the slope shortly after beginning her run this morning. She was airlifted off the mountain for emergency treatment, marking her second medical evacuation by helicopter in less than 10 days.
Following the accident, Vonn was taken to Ca’ Foncello hospital. A team of American and Italian medical specialists operated to fix a broken bone in her left leg.
Vonn was already competing in the Olympics with significant injuries. These included a bone bruise and a torn knee ligament she suffered during a competition in Switzerland in late January. At the time of today’s crash, she was racing with a damaged left knee and a recently repaired right knee. Vonn returned to international competition last season after a six-year retirement.
While the crash ended Vonn's run, the American team celebrated a historic milestone as teammate Breezy Johnson won gold in the downhill. Johnson became only the second woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal in the downhill event.
Anouk Patty, chief of sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard, spoke about the crash and the natural dangers of professional skiing.
"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," Patty said.
Vonn will now focus on her recovery, though it is not yet clear how long it will take.
