Lindsey Vonn’s vital error identified after Winter Olympics horror crash
Lindsey Vonn crashed during the downhill alpine skiing final at the Winter Olympics and underwent surgery for a leg fracture, with Alberto Tomba saying she shouldn’t have raced at Crans-Montana beforehand
Lindsey Vonn’s horror crash at the Winter Olympics left her requiring surgery.(Image: Getty Images)
Italian skiing legend Alberto Tomba reckons Lindsey Vonn ought to have trained at Milano-Cortina rather than competing at Crans-Montana before her devastating crash at the Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old suffered a horrific fall during Sunday’s women’s downhill alpine skiing final.
Vonn had been competing despite enduring a left ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury merely nine days earlier. Her return to action concluded in disastrous circumstances when she crashed just moments into her run at the Winter Games.
The Olympic champion was instantly attended to by medical staff before being helicoptered to a local hospital. Authorities later confirmed she was in stable condition following surgery on a leg fracture.
The accident occurred after Vonn had sustained a ruptured ACL during a tumble at a World Cup event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Tomba has now questioned through Reuters why Vonn chose to compete so close to the Winter Olympics.
He said: “She shouldn’t have raced at Crans-Montana. She should have come here and trained, instead..
“When you feel in good shape, you want to win again. One race leads to another. But after five years preparing for these Olympics … well, she took a risk.”
When asked whether rule changes were needed to protect athletes – Tomba was cautious. He continued: “It’s not easy. You can say that, but when you’re in the start gate…
“I was maybe the only one who wouldn’t start if conditions weren’t right. Different times, different courses.”
The incident resulted in a 20-minute suspension of the course before racing got back underway. Within an hour of Vonn’s tumble, Cande Moreno also came to grief.
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The Andorran skier crashed on the most challenging section of the piste and was spotted clutching her knee before being helicoptered to safety.
The 25-year-old went down on a bend, forcing officials to summon the air ambulance for the second time that Sunday.
Team USA’s Breezy Johnson secured victory at the competition, whilst Germany’s Emma Aicher claimed silver and Italy’s Sofia Goggia bagged bronze.
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