BBC commentator lowered to tears as Winter Olympic icon is airlifted after horror crash
Lindsey Vonn’s remarkable comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics ended in heartbreak after the American skiing legend was involved in a devastating crash during the women’s downhill skiing final
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after her crash at the Winter Olympics(Image: Al Bello/Getty Images)
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has suffered a horrific crash during the downhill competition at the Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old was flying the flag for Team USA, courageously taking part despite tearing her ACL in the lead-up to the Milan Cortina Games.
The ex-Olympic gold medallist had been earmarked as a serious medal prospect before her pre-Games injury blow. Following her retirement from the sport in 2019, Vonn staged an incredible comeback after undergoing partial knee replacement surgery in 2024.
Her Olympic dreams took a hit following a late January mishap, but she stayed resolute in her desire to participate and successfully navigated her compulsory practice sessions earlier this week.
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However, what might have been a fairytale return concluded in devastation, with Vonn motionless on the slope during the women’s downhill skiing finale.
The distressing sight triggered a heartfelt response from the BBC’s commentary panel. “I actually feel guilty that I am this emotional,” said BBC commentator Chemmy Alcott, breaking down in tears.
“When we thought about the end of this story, we never thought and never believed that it would end in her in a clump at the side of the piece, not moving,” reports the Manchester Evening News.
“What we saw is the top section is running very fast. The left-footer is really hard for healthy athletes. She is trying to throw herself down this, gunning for the podium. She doesn’t have a left knee, she drops her hip back and this is an absolute nightmare. It is an absolute nightmare.
“The whole world is watching and we wanted to see her come through the finish smiling, because she was fast, we wanted to see her take on this challenge, it is just really tough.”
The commentator went on to say: “I feel so bad that I feel this way because her family and all over her team… it is so sad. We have to be realistic. The risk was really really high for her to take on the G-force of this downhill.
“The risk she faced when you fall are double that. Her body will not be able to withstand that. The crowd here, everyone is feeling it. There is intermittent clapping and I think that is hope that she is going to get up.
“But then the screen comes on and we see all the medical staff around here. They have actually had to put on some background noise because it is quite uncomfortable.”
