Lindsey Vonn crashes while competing with torn ACL at Winter Olympics with American skier treated on the slopes

American skier Lindsey Vonn has crashed while competing with a torn ACL at the Winter Olympics.

The 41-year-old Vonn had suffered a bad crash just days before the start of the Games but decided to compete regardless of a torn ACL.

On Sunday, however, in her first event in Milan she crashed again after clipping one of the gates and needed treatment on the slopes.

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The American lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around. She fell heavily, sprawling through the snow as she tumbled down the slope. The race was put on hold as medics attended to her.

It left the crowd in stunned silence, so much so that Vonn's cries of pain could be clearly heard.

Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated.

She was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier's storied career.

All eyes had been on Vonn as the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years away from the circuit - and with a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee too.

Her surgery in April 2024 left her feeling so good that she had decided to attempt another Olympics appearance.

She stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favourite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago.

That accident on the eve of the Games left her with a tall order just to get to the start line. Vonn, though, had successfully completed two practice runs on the Cortina course on Friday and Saturday, wearing a brace on her injured knee, and her coach Aksel Lund Svindal felt she was in "good enough" condition to challenge for a medal.

However her hopes of a fairy tale comeback were dashed again with another horrific crash.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Lindsey Vonn crashes while competing with torn ACL at Winter Olympics with American skier treated on the slopes