Lindsey Vonn, a renowned American skier, faced a heartbreaking turn in her Olympic comeback as she sustained a significant fall just 13 seconds into the women's downhill final at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Despite having been in good condition during practice the day before, Vonn stumbled, caught her right arm on a gate, and tumbled down the slope, necessitating immediate medical attention and subsequent air evacuation from the course.

Vonn, who previously won a gold medal in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a bronze in 2018 at Pyeongchang, had bravely returned to competitive skiing after retiring due to a persistent knee injury. After undergoing surgery to have a titanium knee implant inserted, she made an impressive comeback during the current season, securing podium finishes in all five races and winning twice. However, a severe injury sustained during a World Cup event in Switzerland left her left ACL completely torn just days prior to her Olympic participation.

Describing this Olympics as her 'last', Vonn donned a knee brace and entered what would be her fifth Olympic Games, only for her race to come to an abrupt conclusion within moments. The incident not only curtailed her aspirations for another Olympic medal but also highlighted the risks athletes face while competing at the highest levels, particularly after serious injuries.