Race stopped in Crans-Montana
Ski star falls badly: Helicopter flies Vonn to the clinic
Updated on January 30, 2026 – 4:16 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The descent in Crans-Montana has to be aborted. There had previously been several serious crashes on the route. Lindsey Vonn also got it.
The American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn fell badly in Crans-Montana during the last World Cup downhill run before the Winter Olympics (February 6th to 22nd in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo). After losing her balance on her first jump, the speed specialist ended up lying on her back and landed roughly in the safety net. The race was then canceled due to poor visibility and increasing snowfall.
After her fall, Vonn initially lay in the snow breathing heavily, but was able to sit up a short time later. After a short treatment, the 41-year-old drove herself into the valley, stopping several times and holding her left knee. She wears the partial prosthesis that enabled her successful comeback on the right.
At the finish area, Vonn then waved to the audience before disappearing into the examination tent. She was later picked up by helicopter and flown to a hospital.
Before Vonn, who started with start number five, two other athletes had already had serious falls on the slope. The Austrian Nina Ortlieb escaped with a “bruise on her chin,” as she reported. The Norwegian Marte Monsen had to be transported away in a rescue sleigh. When she fell, she lost not only her skis but also her helmet and goggles.
DSV Alpine director Wolfgang Maier said on ZDF: “Crans-Montana has always been a difficult descent that demands a certain limit from the women.” The preparation of the route is “not bad, but not completely even, which is an extreme challenge.” Maier attributed the falls to “individual skiing errors”.
The athletes in the starting area, including the Germans Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, reacted with incomprehension to the cancellation and angrily discussed the decision among themselves. “It didn’t feel like anything crazy,” said Jacqueline Wiles (USA), who was in the lead at the time and had comforted Vonn after her accident at the finish.
But Wiles also showed understanding for the race jury: “It’s a hard day. You should protect everyone.” Ortlieb added: “If the best skier, Lindsey Vonn, also fails, then that shows that the slope is currently very demanding.”
