Lindsey Vonn’s Father Says ‘This Is the End of Her Career’ After Terrifying Crash at the Olympics

Lindsey Vonn’s father is speaking out after his daughter crashed at the 2026 Olympic Games.

The Olympic skier, 41, suffered a terrifying accident 13 seconds into her run for the women’s downhill after deciding to compete in the Olympics following an incident at a World Cup race that left her with a torn ACL.

Vonn was evacuated from the scene by helicopter at the Olympics and, according to Reuters, she underwent surgery on a broken leg immediately after arriving at Ca’Foncello Hospital in Italy.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, February 9, Alan Kildow said his daughter is done racing — at least if he has anything to do with it.

“She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,” said Kildow. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”

“She’s a very strong individual,” he added of his daughter. “She knows physical pain and she understands the circumstances that she finds herself in. And she’s able to handle it. Better than I expected. She’s a very, very strong person. And so I think she’s handling it real well.”

Kildow said that he and his family felt “shock” and “horror” watching Vonn crash at the Olympics, adding: “It can be dramatic and traumatic. You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.”

Vonn’s father insisted that her fall at the Olympics had “nothing to do with the ACL issue on her left leg,” explaining that he believes she pushed herself too far overall.

“There are times sometimes in any race, but especially in downhill, where you have to take a little speed off,” he said. “You can give yourself a little bit more leeway on the line so you don’t put yourself in a questionable position.”

Vonn will not return to the Olympics, he said, adding: “She will be going home at an appropriate point in time.”

Vonn announced in December that she had qualified for Milano Cortina after previously retiring from skiing in 2019 due to various injuries. With a successful knee replacement surgery behind her, Vonn said at a news conference in St. Moritz, Switzerland, “Physically I’m in possibly the best shape I’ve ever been in.”

Things took a sharp turn for the three-time Olympic medalist after she crashed in the World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland — the final downhill before the Olympics — on January 30 and ruptured her ACL.

Head coach Chris Knight previously told the AP, “I’ve got no doubts in my mind that this is going to be OK.”