Lindsey Vonn's family speak out on ‘scary’ crash as Olympic skier helicoptered off slope days after rupturing ACL

The sister of Team USA skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, has spoken out about the athlete's horrific crash during today's (8 February) event.

Vonn, 41, crashed during the women's downhill competition at the Winter Games after clipping the first gate when heading down the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina.

She could be heard screaming in pain, as concerned spectators looked on in horror.

The four-time Olympic medallist had announced last week that she had suffered a serious knee injury, going into the Games with a ruptured ACL, a bone bruise and meniscal damage.

Following the crash, Vonn was treated by medical staff for a lengthy period of time, before a helicopter airlifted her to hospital.

Now, her family has spoken out about the horrific incident.

Karin Kildow, the skier's sister, is in Cortina to support her sister at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Speaking to NBC, she said that the family is 'hoping for the best' after witnessing the worrying fall from Vonn, a gold-medallist at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

"That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. It happened quick. So when that happens you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay," she said.

You can view footage of the crash here:

Kildow added: "It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, that is not a good sign."

Speaking more of her sister's fearlessness, Kildow said that Vonn 'dares greatly' and 'always goes 100 percent'.

Vonn's Olympic prospects had been in jeopardy already, though she addressed fans on social media, saying: "My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday.

"Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone."

Kildow went on: "I know she put her whole heart into it and sometimes, just, like, things happen,

"It’s a very dangerous sport. And there are a lot of variables at play. I don’t really know exactly what happened. It did look like a pretty rough fall. We’re just hoping for the best."

“I think she is being evaluated right now is the only thing we’ve heard, hopefully we’ll hear more soon,” Kildow stated.

Speaking on Instagram just hours before the race, Vonn said: "I will race tomorrow in my final Olympic Downhill and while I can’t guarantee a good result, I can guarantee I will give it everything I have,

"But no matter what happens, I have already won."

She was the 13th competitor to go in the event, having undergone two successful practice runs on the course, though she would crash early in her attempt today.

Vonn even recorded the third-fastest time in the second downhill training session, though it's unsure how she'll continue after this latest incident.