Lindsey Vonn’s Dad Believes Her Skiing Career Should End After Olympic Crash
on Feb 10, 2026
Lindsey Vonn Sustains Complex Tibia Fracture After Crash In Olympic Event
If it were up to Lindsey Vonn’s dad to make the decision, then her skiing career would be over.
Vonn retired from elite skiing for six years and underwent knee replacement surgery in 2024. She returned to skiing last season and had her eye on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Just a few days before the Olympics, Vonn ruptured her ACL during a race in Switzerland. But she remained determined to compete in the Winter Games.
Vonn took to the slopes on Sunday (February 8) for the women’s downhill. 16 years prior, in 2010, Vonn became the first American to win a gold medal in the event.
Despite her ACL injury, many believed Vonn had the potential to win again. Unfortunately, Vonn didn’t finish the event because she crashed mere seconds into her run.
Vonn cried out in pain as the medical team surrounded her. She remained in the snow for several minutes before she was airlifted off the course.
Once the race resumed, Vonn’s teammate, Breezy Johnson, won the gold medal, becoming the second American to do so.
We later learned that Vonn underwent surgery to stabilize the injury she sustained in the crash. Vonn described the severity of that injury in a statement she shared on Instagram on Monday (February 9).
“My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever. Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly,” she said.
Vonn added, “While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets.”
Lindsey Vonn’s Dad Speaks Out After Her Crash
With multiple surgeries awaiting her, Vonn didn’t share what the future holds for her career. But Vonn’s dad, Alan Kildow, made it clear he’s ready for her to put her skis away.
Kildow, a former skier himself, was in the stands watching Vonn race when she crashed. ESPN reports that he started down at the ground while his daughter was being treated and waiting for the medical helicopter to arrive.
ESPN also quoted Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, who said:
“She put it all out there. She always goes 110 percent, there’s never anything less, so I know she put her whole heart into it. Sometimes things happen. It’s a very dangerous sport.”
Meanwhile, during an interview with the Associated Press on February 9, Alan Kildow said he believes it’s time for Vonn to retire.
“She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career,” he said. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Kildow said his daughter has someone with her at all times in her hospital room. He shared how she’s been handling her injury, saying:
“She’s a very strong individual. 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.”
Still, Vonn won’t be able to return to the Olympics, not even as a spectator. “No, she’s not in that kind of situation,” her father said. “She will be going home at an appropriate point in time.”
We’ll continue praying for Lindsey Vonn’s quick and complete recovery.
