Lindsey Vonn's Skiing Career Declared Over by Father Following Severe Leg Injury in Italy
In a definitive statement from Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Alan Kildow, father of American skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn, announced on Monday that his daughter's competitive racing days have concluded following a catastrophic leg fracture during the downhill event over the weekend. The 41-year-old athlete will not return to the Winter Olympics, according to her father, who emphasized he would exercise all influence to prevent further racing.
"She's 41 years old and this is the end of her career," Kildow declared during a telephone interview. "There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it." The former ski racer, who initially taught his daughter the sport, made these remarks while Vonn receives treatment at a hospital in Treviso following her helicopter evacuation from the Cortina course on Sunday.
Complex Injury and Emotional Resilience
Vonn herself confirmed the severity of her condition through an Instagram post late Monday, revealing she sustained a "complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly." While Kildow declined to elaborate on specific medical details, he provided insight into his daughter's emotional state during this challenging period.
"She's a very strong individual," Kildow observed. "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." The father has maintained constant vigil, sleeping in his daughter's hospital room overnight alongside other family members.
Family Witnesses Traumatic Crash
Kildow described the harrowing experience of watching his daughter's accident from the finish area alongside Vonn's siblings and other spectators. "First, the shock and the horror of the whole thing, seeing a crash like that," he recounted. "It can be dramatic and traumatic. You're just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have."
He acknowledged the psychological impact of witnessing such events, noting "You can go into a shock an emotional psychological shock" when confronted with such circumstances. However, he expressed confidence in the medical care his daughter receives, praising the "very, very top-notch doctor" provided by the USOC and U.S. Ski Team.
Racing Despite Previous Injury
Remarkably, Vonn competed in the downhill event despite tearing the ACL in her left knee just nine days earlier during another crash. Kildow emphasized that this previous injury did not contribute to Sunday's accident. "What happened to her had nothing to do with the ACL issue on her left leg. Nothing," he stated categorically.
The father explained that Vonn had demonstrated her capability during training runs and received clearance from "high level physicians to ski." Instead, he attributed the crash to Vonn's aggressive racing line, where she "clipped a gate early in her run and got knocked out of control." Kildow noted that in downhill racing, "There are times sometimes where you have to take a little speed off" to avoid precarious positions.
Legacy of an Extraordinary Career
Vonn's injury marks a tragic conclusion to what has been an extraordinary comeback season. After nearly six years of retirement and undergoing partial titanium replacement surgery in her right knee, she returned to competition last season with impressive results:
- Won two downhills this season
- Finished on the podium in seven of eight completed World Cup races
- Placed fourth in the remaining race
- Holds the record of 12 World Cup victories in Cortina
Kildow reflected on his daughter's remarkable achievements, noting "She won 84 World Cup races. And not many people do that," placing her second on the all-time women's list behind teammate Mikaela Shiffrin's 108 wins. He emphasized the distinct challenges of speed events, stating "there's a hell of a lot of the difference between a speed race, a downhill especially, and a slalom."
No Olympic Return Planned
Contrary to speculation about Vonn potentially returning to the Olympics in a non-competitive capacity, Kildow confirmed she would not be attending future Games to support teammates. "No, she's not that in kind of situation," he clarified. "She will be going home at an appropriate point in time." This statement underscores the definitive nature of her competitive departure from the sport she has dominated for years.
The skiing world now watches as one of its most celebrated athletes faces a challenging recovery process, with her father's words serving as both a protective declaration and a recognition of an illustrious career that has reached its conclusion under the most difficult circumstances.
