Lindsey Vonn’s storied skiing career may have reached its final chapter following a devastating crash in the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics — and her father is making it clear he wants it to stay that way.
Alan Kildow, speaking to The Associated Press from Treviso where his daughter is recovering from surgery on a complex tibia fracture, delivered a firm verdict: “She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career. There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
The comments come one day after Vonn’s high-speed tumble on the Tofane course Sunday, February 8, where she hooked a gate with her right arm, spun out, and suffered the serious left-leg injury. Airlifted to Ca’ Foncello Hospital, she underwent initial surgery to stabilize the fracture, with more procedures expected ahead.
Vonn, the Olympic gold medalist and record-setting World Cup winner, had already battled back from a recent ACL tear in the same leg — sustained just days earlier in a World Cup race — to chase one last Olympic moment at age 41. In her Instagram statement Monday, she insisted the ACL played no role in the crash (“I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line”) and declared she had “no regrets,” writing: “Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.”
Yet Kildow, who has been by her side along with other family members, sees the injury as the definitive turning point. He emphasized she will not even return to the Games to support teammates or for any other reason, underscoring the physical toll and emotional weight of the moment.
The stark contrast — Vonn’s defiant optimism versus her father’s protective insistence — has sparked widespread discussion across the skiing world and social media, highlighting the razor-thin margins of the sport and the personal stakes for one of its greatest icons.
Vonn has yet to address her future plans directly beyond her initial post, but her father’s words carry significant weight given their long history: he introduced her to skiing as a toddler and coached her through her early years.
As Vonn faces a challenging rehabilitation road, the skiing community continues to rally around her with messages of support. Whether this truly marks the end remains to be seen — but if Alan Kildow has his way, the legendary downhill queen’s competitive days are over.
