Only nine days after tearing her ACL in a crash, Lindsey Vonn competed for her fourth Olympic medal. Her race ended 10 seconds in, when she hooked her right arm in a gate at high speed and was catapulted from the course.
Winter Olympics women’s downhill results: Lindsey Vonn crashes, Breezy Johnson wins gold
It’s been a day of mixed emotions for the United States ski team.
The 41-year-old remained down with an apparent injury, requiring medical assistance. With the race stopped and the crowd watching in silence, she eventually was transported away by helicopter — an ominous sign, especially given her recent injury history.
Vonn entered the race on Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Olimpia delle Tofane course as the 13th rider, chasing teammate Breezy Johnson who sat in the top spot. However, she took too direct of a line on one of the first right-hand corners and was lifted off, coming down hard and sliding for several seconds before coming to a stop. The medical team was with her quickly.
Winning two of the first six world cup down hill races, Vonn entered Sunday’s event as one of the favorites despite her knee injury. She was one of four Americans to compete for the gold medal, joining Breezy Johnson, Jacqueline Wiles and Isabella Wright.
Johnson ended up stealing the show.
Returning to the course where she tore her own ACL in the lead-up to the 2022 Olympics, she entered the start gate as sixth rider. After posting the quickest time in training, she followed up her performance by climbing onto the top spot 1.10 seconds ahead of then-leader Ariane Rädler of Austria — a definitive statement from the 30-year-old Wyoming native.
The biggest challenge came four riders later, when Germany’s Emma Aicher hit the course. Having won a world cup downhill earlier in the season, she finished only 0.04 seconds off Johnson’s time.
For Johnson, this marks the first time finishing in the first spot in an elite-level race. Her best result in a world cup downhill thus far had been a second place.
Winter Olympics women’s downhill results
The race’s top-10 look as follows:
1. Breezy Johnson (USA) 1:36,10
2. Emma Aicher (GER) +0.04
3. Sofia Goggia (ITA) +0.59
4. Jacqueline Wiles (USA) +0.86
4. Cornelia Hütter (AUT) +0.86
6. Laura Pirovano (ITA) +0.94
7. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) +0.98
8. Ariane Rädler (AUT) +1.10
9. Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) +1.16
10. Federica Brignone (ITA) +1.19
DNFs include Lindsey Vonn (USA), Nina Ortlieb (AUT)
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