Skiing icon Lindsey Vonn suffered a dramatic crash during the women’s downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics on Sunday. Vonn, aged 41, had returned to action just nine days after sustaining a severe left ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The comeback attempt by Vonn turned into a nightmare as she crashed shortly after starting her run. Medical professionals rushed to her aid, and she was attended to on-site before being taken away on a stretcher, likely for further medical attention at a nearby hospital.
The distressing scene of Vonn in pain and sobbing left spectators in shocked silence as she was airlifted off the slopes. Five-time Olympic skier Graham Bell, providing commentary on BBC Two, expressed astonishment at the incident, emphasizing Vonn’s determination and the risks she took.
Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott, who competed alongside Vonn, also shared emotional reactions to the unfortunate turn of events. Alcott highlighted the challenges of the course and the high stakes involved, expressing sadness over the outcome.
Vonn had previously suffered a similar ACL injury in January and had recovered remarkably to participate in the recent practice sessions. However, her hopes for a successful Olympic return were dashed by the crash. The competition was briefly halted following the incident, and another skier, Cande Moreno, also suffered a crash shortly after.
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