A former Olympic skier turned BBC commentator fought back tears while analyzing Lindsey Vonn’s devastating crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, later delivering a stark verdict that the American icon should end her career permanently to safeguard her long-term wellbeing.
Chemmy Alcott, who competed against Vonn during her racing days and retired in 2014, became visibly emotional on live BBC coverage as the 41-year-old Vonn tumbled violently during the women’s downhill event on February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Vonn, attempting a remarkable comeback after tearing her left ACL just nine days earlier, lost control early in her run on the challenging Olympia delle Tofane course. She slammed into the snow, remaining motionless before being airlifted to hospital. The injury was later diagnosed as a complex tibia fracture—far more severe than a standard break—requiring multiple surgeries, including four in Italy. Vonn has since returned home to the U.S., where she continues an intensive recovery process while confined to bed and unable to stand.
During the immediate aftermath, Alcott struggled to compose herself on air. “I actually feel guilty that I am this emotional,” she said, her voice breaking. “When we thought about the end of this story, we never thought and never believed that it would end in her in a clump at the side of the piste, not moving.”
Describing the scene as an “absolute nightmare,” Alcott highlighted the immense physical toll on Vonn’s already compromised knee. “She is trying to throw herself down this, gunning for the podium,” Alcott explained. “She doesn’t have a left knee, she drops her hip back and this is an absolute nightmare.”
In a follow-up appearance on BBC programming, Alcott offered a candid and blunt assessment of Vonn’s future in the sport. “This isn’t about a comeback to skiing right now, this is a comeback to health,” she stated firmly. She detailed the severity of the fracture, noting external fixation with “about eight structures” inserted into the leg, and expressed relief that Vonn was safely home.
Alcott emphasized the need for Vonn to focus on healing amid compounding personal hardship: the crash coincided with the heartbreaking loss of her beloved dog Leo the following day, February 9. Vonn later shared that Leo, who had battled lymphoma and then lung cancer, passed away as his body could no longer cope, calling the period “probably the hardest of my life.”
When asked if she would have competed under similar circumstances, Alcott admitted she might have charged the gate if victory seemed possible—but stressed realism given the elevated risks to Vonn’s body.
Vonn, a 2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist with additional bronzes in 2010 (Super-G) and 2018 (downhill), plus four World Cup overall titles, had staged an inspiring return following partial knee replacement in 2024. Despite the setback ending her Olympic participation without a medal, her determination has drawn widespread admiration.
Alcott’s emotional response and direct advice underscore the brutal realities of elite skiing, particularly for athletes pushing boundaries later in their careers. She concluded by wishing Vonn a full recovery, prioritizing her health above any future competitive ambitions.
