Lindsey Vonn Injury Update: Left knee scare after Crans-Montana crash

Lindsey Vonn sustained a left knee injury in a downhill crash in Crans-Montana, then withdrew from the following day’s super-G as medical evaluations continued. With the 2026 Winter Olympics about a week away, the immediate question is whether the injury is a short-term scare or something that could force changes to her planned start list.

The latest public updates have emphasized testing and day-to-day monitoring, with no definitive severity publicly confirmed as of Saturday afternoon ET.

How the crash happened

The incident occurred during a women’s World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana on Friday, Jan. 30 (ET), in a race that unfolded amid deteriorating visibility and a spate of falls. Vonn lost control on the course, hit the safety netting, and was later transported for medical evaluation as attention centered on her left knee.

Race officials ultimately called off the downhill after multiple crashes on the same track, reflecting how quickly conditions had shifted. The stoppage also limited the number of athletes who were able to complete runs, complicating form reads this close to the Games.

Lindsey Vonn Injury Update: what’s known now

Public statements since the crash have been consistent on three points: the injury involves her left knee, more exams were planned, and she was not ready to rule out competing in Italy.

Key takeaways

• The injury is to the left knee, and further medical exams have been ongoing.

• She sat out Saturday’s super-G, signaling a cautious approach while swelling and stability are assessed.

• Her current Olympic participation status has not been publicly ruled out, but a firm medical timeline has not been released.

That combination—withdrawal from the final pre-Games start plus an emphasis on additional imaging or re-checks—suggests the team is prioritizing clarity over pushing through pain in a “last tune-up” race.

Why she sat out the super-G

Vonn’s decision to skip the next day’s super-G in Crans-Montana was widely read as protective rather than definitive. Super-G demands race-speed commitment with fewer technical turns than giant slalom but less margin for correction than downhill when the surface is slick and visibility is mixed. Sitting out reduces the risk of a second fall and buys time for swelling to settle and for doctors to evaluate joint stability.

In practical terms, missing that start also avoids a scenario where she races while compensating—something that can transfer stress to the hips, back, or the opposite knee. For an athlete with a long history of lower-body wear-and-tear, the immediate goal is often making sure a “scare” doesn’t become a cascade.

Olympic timeline and selection context

The schedule pressure is real: alpine athletes typically want their final World Cup starts to confirm equipment setup and speed timing, especially on courses that mimic Olympic terrain. But the bigger priority is arriving at the Games healthy enough to complete training runs and pass internal readiness checks.

Vonn’s comeback storyline has been built on managing her body carefully through a compressed pre-Olympic runway. She returned to high-level competition after major knee issues and has spoken publicly in recent months about balancing recovery work with the demands of downhill and super-G speed. A knee evaluation this late in the cycle raises the stakes because it can affect not only participation but also which events are realistic—downhill, super-G, or a narrower plan.

What comes next in the next 72 hours

The next updates are likely to hinge on concrete, observable steps rather than broad statements: whether imaging results are shared, whether she can ski pain-free in training, and how the coaching and medical staff frame risk tolerance heading into Olympic week.

If the injury is primarily soft-tissue swelling or bruising, the near-term path typically looks like controlled rehab, reduced on-snow load, and reassessment. If instability is suspected, the decision-making becomes more binary because speed events offer little room for a compromised knee. For now, the only solid datapoint is caution: a skipped super-G and continued testing, with optimism expressed but no guarantees.

Sources consulted: Associated Press; NBC Olympics; ABC News; Yahoo Sports; The Guardian; International Ski and Snowboard Federation