Lindsey Vonn's Olympic farewell marred by dramatic crash

Lindsey Vonn's final Olympic downhill ended in heartbreak. Just nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee, the 41-year-old American hit the first gate and lost balance on the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina. Airlifted off the piste after a tense delay, Vonn's hopes of adding another medal to her legendary career vanished before the world's eyes.

World champion Breezy Johnson, visibly shaken, watched from the finish as she secured gold in 1:36.10. Germany's Emma Aicher took silver by just 0.04 seconds, with home favourite Sofia Goggia claiming bronze.

Vonn had defied the odds to compete, completing two smooth training runs in the build-up and even shrugging off doubts over her torn ACL, determined to chase the Olympic downhill glory she first won in Vancouver 2010. But the risk proved too great. Spectators applauded as the helicopter carried her away, a poignant reminder of a career defined by comebacks, courage, and unprecedented success - 12 of her 84 World Cup wins came on this very piste.

Her crash casts a shadow over the remainder of the Games. Having targeted the downhill as her final Olympic challenge, it now seems unlikely she will race in the super-G or team events, making this a devastating end to her fifth Olympics.

Four-time British Olympian Chemmy Alcott described the scene as "brutal," praising Vonn's defiance but warning of the toll such risks take on even the fittest athletes. Meanwhile, Andorra's Cande Moreno also suffered a heavy crash, highlighting just how punishing Cortina's course can be.

Lindsey Vonn leaves Cortina with her legacy intact, but Olympic gold slipped from her grasp - a final act of courage in a career that redefined women's alpine skiing.