In the wake of Lindsey Vonn’s heartbreaking crash during the women’s downhill at the Winter Olympics, an outpouring of support has flooded in for the American skiing legend—and one particularly touching tribute came from Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Mariska Hargitay.
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star, a longtime friend of Vonn, shared an emotional poem on Instagram dedicated to the 41-year-old athlete. One poignant line reads: “You are standing on the podium of everything that matters.”
Hargitay’s gesture underscores the deep bond between the two women. In the lead-up to the Games, the actress had been vocal in her encouragement, posting skiing photos with shoutouts to Vonn and sharing supportive messages featuring the acronym BELV (“Believe”) on race day.
Vonn responded warmly to the post, commenting: “Love you so much ❤️🙏🏻🥹.” Other celebrities, including Hargitay’s SVU co-star Danny Pino and Suits actress Sarah Rafferty, also chimed in with comments of solidarity.
The crash occurred during Sunday’s downhill event on the Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, when Vonn suffered a severe fall that left her with a complex displaced tibia fracture in her left leg. She was airlifted from the venue and is now reported to be in stable condition, facing multiple surgeries ahead.
This latest injury came on the heels of a prior setback: Vonn had ruptured her ACL in the same leg just days before the Olympics but chose to compete anyway, showcasing her legendary resilience.
In her first Instagram post since the accident, Vonn reflected on her journey with unflinching honesty and inspiration. Sharing a photo from moments before the crash, she wrote:
“Yesterday my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy tale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it… I have no regrets… I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”
Vonn’s remarkable career includes one Olympic gold and two bronze medals, along with multiple World Championship titles. Despite the setback, her message of perseverance continues to resonate, reminding fans and fellow athletes alike that true greatness lies in the courage to pursue dreams—even when the risks are immense.
As Vonn begins her road to recovery, the support from friends like Hargitay highlights the profound impact she has had beyond the slopes, inspiring a generation to believe in themselves and dare greatly.
