Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic downhill crash leaves complex tibia fracture, surgery ahead

Lindsey Vonn’s return to Olympic downhill ended in a dramatic crash on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 (ET) on the Tofana course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, with the American skiing icon sustaining a complex fracture of her left tibia. As of Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 (ET), Vonn is in stable condition in a hospital in Treviso, Italy, and has said she expects multiple surgeries as part of her recovery.

The incident immediately reshaped the women’s downhill storyline at the Milano Cortina Games, shifting attention from medal contention to the severity of the injury and what it means for Vonn’s future in the sport.

What happened in the Lindsey Vonn crash

Vonn crashed early in her downhill run after catching part of the course setup and losing control at high speed. Accounts of the exact trigger vary slightly in phrasing, but the sequence is consistent: she clipped a gate/marker, became unbalanced in the air, and hit the snow hard before sliding to a stop.

She remained down on the course for an extended period while medical staff stabilized her, then was transported off the mountain by helicopter. The fall was severe enough that the race continued under a heavy emotional shadow even as other competitors finished their runs.

Injury details: tibia fracture described as “complex”

Vonn’s injury has been described as a complex tibia fracture, meaning the break involves multiple fragments and/or a challenging pattern that often requires surgical fixation. In her first public comments after the crash, she indicated she would need more than one procedure, a reality consistent with high-energy lower-leg injuries in alpine skiing.

Her medical team has not publicly released a full surgical plan. For now, the key confirmed points are:

• Bone involved: tibia (left lower leg)

• Severity: complex fracture

• Treatment outlook: multiple surgeries anticipated

• Status: stable and hospitalized in Treviso as of Feb. 10 (ET)

Lindsey Vonn injury update: “No regrets,” uncertain timeline

Vonn has said she has no regrets about racing and has emphasized that the crash was a racing incident rather than a direct result of her recent knee issue. Any return-to-sport timeline is unclear at this time, and it will depend on surgical outcomes, bone healing, and rehabilitation progress.

A complex tibia fracture typically brings a long recovery arc—often months before full weight-bearing and considerably longer before elite-level training. Whether Vonn aims for any competitive return or treats this as a closing chapter remains unconfirmed publicly, though members of her family have framed the crash as a strong signal it should be her final race.

“Did Lindsey Vonn crash today?” Clarifying the dates

Searches spiked for “lindsey vonn crash today” and “lindsey vonn update today,” but the key dates are:

• Crash: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 (ET) — women’s downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo

• Latest public updates: Monday–Tuesday, Feb. 9–10, 2026 (ET) — hospitalization details and surgery expectations

So, if you’re seeing “today” in posts, it usually refers to ongoing updates rather than the crash occurring on Feb. 10.

Women’s downhill result and Breezy Johnson’s gold

The crash happened during a race that still produced a major U.S. moment: Breezy Johnson won Olympic gold in the women’s downhill, becoming only the second American woman to win that title—joining Vonn, who won downhill gold in 2010.

Johnson’s win was widely celebrated, but many athletes and fans simultaneously focused on Vonn’s condition given the seriousness of the fall and the lengthy on-slope response.

Crash video: what viewers can expect to see

Footage of the incident has circulated widely. The video shows Vonn entering a fast section, clipping a gate/marker, then rotating off-line before landing awkwardly and tumbling into the snow. The aftermath—medical staff surrounding her and a long pause before transport—underscores why the incident has been described as one of the most sobering moments of the early Games.

Key takeaways

• Vonn suffered a complex left tibia fracture in the Feb. 8 Olympic downhill crash.

• She is stable and has indicated multiple surgeries are expected.

• The crash overshadowed—but did not erase—Breezy Johnson’s U.S. gold in the same event.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, The Guardian, International Olympic Committee, NBC Olympics