Ski legend Lindsey Vonn’s focus was elsewhere even after struggling a devastating damage on the Winter Olympics.
Lindsey Vonn had a message for her team-mate as she was airlifted on the Winter Olympics (Picture: Getty) This text incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Be taught extra
Winter Olympics icon Lindsey Vonn would not even permit her horrific crash on the Winter Olympics get in the best way of supporting Crew USA. That is after gold medal-winning team-mate Breezy Johnson revealed the 41-year-old was rooting for her as she was airlifted off the Cortina d’Ampezzo following her fall within the downhill occasion. Vonn, who has since undergone surgical procedure, was making her first Winter Olympics look since 2018 after briefly retiring from the game and lacking the 2022 Video games.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s comeback resulted in heartbreak when she clipped a flag marker on the highest a part of the descent and was despatched hurtling. The crash was that rather more agonising given Vonn, 41, solely lately revealed she had “fully ruptured” her ACL in her left knee one week earlier than her Olympics return. And whereas many questioned organisers and coaches for permitting the veteran to compete in what’s more likely to be her final video games, others lauded her show of energy and willpower. Johnson, 30, was among the many latter group and revealed Vonn was championing her victory even whereas she was being airlifted to the hospital. Johnson had accomplished her run earlier than Vonn’s descent, and her try was ok to high the rostrum.
“Her coach stated she was cheering for me within the helicopter, so I hope for the most effective for her,” she stated. “I hope that it’s not too unhealthy. My coronary heart aches for her. It’s such a brutal sport generally.
“I had a great feeling and I can’t actually consider it but. I knew I needed to push and go tougher than I did in coaching. I couldn’t afford to be something aside from clear.”
Johnson completed simply 0.04 seconds forward of Germany’s Emma Aicher to safe gold and her first Olympic medal. Because of this, she turned solely the second American athlete to win gold on this occasion, with Vonn being the primary again in 2010.
Vonn’s cries of agony sparked an emotional response from BBC commentator Chemmy Alcott, who turned emotional simply describing the scenes because the skier lay “in a clump.” And Johnson despatched a message of assist again in Vonn’s route as she celebrated her profession spotlight.
“I want you all the most effective and I hope to see you again,” she added. “What you’ve got already achieved is a lot, it’s unimaginable, and my coronary heart hurts for you and I want you all the most effective.”
“That did not simply occur.” ?????? ??????
Breezy Johnson breaks her medal in pleasure on the prospect of getting a message from Tom Daley! pic.twitter.com/UBDOmHSeNB
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 8, 2026
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It was virtually precisely 12 months in the past that Johnson celebrated one other peak in her profession on the 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships. It was there she sealed her first world titles within the downhill and crew mixed occasions in Austria.
And after lacking the 2022 Winter Olympics attributable to damage, she made her cameo depend this time round. With Vonn cheering her on from afar, Johnson’s earlier run of 1 minute, 36.10 seconds was ample to edge her approach to the highest prize.
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Earlier this month, Johnson defended Vonn’s choice to compete together with her compromised knee. When a fan on social media website Threads requested why a substitute wasn’t named, the freshly topped Olympic champion advised followers do not at all times get the complete story.
“There might be six Individuals working the Downhill coaching runs, and if Lindsey can not compete… or doesn’t really feel aggressive sufficient, others can take her place,” she wrote. “However extra athletes have competed with out an ACL than you suppose. They simply typically don’t discuss it as a result of they don’t wish to hear about it from the peanut gallery.”
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