Lindsey Vonn’s preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics have just been thrown into uncertainty after she suffered a frightening crash during the women’s downhill at Crans-Montana. The race was abandoned after just six starters, following multiple early crashes that raised safety concerns on the Mont Lachaux course.

Vonn, wearing the discipline leader’s red bib, lost control after landing a jump in some tricky conditions with low visibility. The 41-year-old American star slammed into the safety nets, her airbag going off, and remained down for several minutes while the medical staff administered treatment.  However, she soon managed to get back on her skis.

As she started to ski her way down slowly, it was clear something was wrong. Vonn was grimacing and heavily favoring her left leg, struggling to put weight on it. She stopped multiple times as she made her way over to the finish area, limping over to the medical tent before being airlifted by helicopter.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard said in a statement that Vonn was “being evaluated,” but there has been no further update since. The incident has raised serious doubts over her status for the looming Winter Olympics, even more so because of her long history of knee injuries, including torn ACLs and even a partial titanium knee replacement in 2024.

Before Vonn, two other athletes crashed down the course: Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen also ended up in the netting. Following the back-to-back crashes, race officials ultimately called off the rest of the competition.

As for Vonn, back after a knee replacement and a five-year retirement, it remains to be seen whether the injury will hamper her shot at the Olympics. She’s currently set to compete in the women’s downhill, just a week away on 8th February, the super-G, and the new team combined event.

As she has been gearing up to appear for her fifth Olympics, she recently opened up about what has been her ‘mantra’ and motivation.

Lindsey Vonn finds strength in her mother’s words while eying Olympic return

Making a comeback to the sport after a five-year hiatus and a major knee surgery at age 40 is far from easy. But the ever determined Lindsey Vonn not only found a way but also established herself as one of the skiers to beat heading into the Olympics. So how did she do it?

In an Instagram reel shared by Team USA, Vonn shared, “My mantra for the Olympics is ‘Today is another great day.’”

She further added, “When my mom was sick, she would wake up every day and say, ‘Today is another great day,’ and I think it’s just an important reminder to believe in myself. Life is short; always give your best.”

Vonn lost her mother, Linda Krohn, to ALS in August 2022. Now, after recording the highest number of wins of any skier, Vonn was aiming for the 2026 games just because she has faith in herself that she still has the caliber to perform well and not to prove anything to anyone.

While many would think a comeback in her forties versus a much younger field would be a disadvantage, Vonn believes otherwise: “I think my age is a big advantage, actually. I have been in that starting gate more than anyone else that’s in the starting gate.”

Now, after the heartbreaking crash in the Mont Lachaux course, her future for the 2026 games, which is scheduled to kick off in less than a week, remains uncertain. But if Vonn successfully manages to participate in her fifth Olympics, at 41, she will officially become the oldest woman to compete in an Olympic Alpine skiing event.

Not to mention, Cortina d’Ampezzo, the site of the 2026 downhill, has remained her most successful venue, where she holds a record 12 World Cup victories. Only time will tell what the future holds for the skiing legend.