Skier Lindsey Vonn won't back down
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.2 • 6.2K Ratings
🗓️ 8 May 2026
⏱️ 10 minutes
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Summary
It had been six years since she stepped away from competitive skiing due to injuries and made her triumphant return at the 2026 Winter Olympics. But then it came all tumbling down. Millions watched as the 41-year-old had the worst crash of her career.
Most people wouldn't want to show their face in public again — not Lindsey Vonn.
NPR's Becky Sullivan sat down with her and shares her story.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's consider this where every day we go deep on one big news story. |
| 0:04.7 | Today, the agony of defeat and the long road back. |
| 0:08.6 | It started early this year. |
| 0:10.3 | As the 26th Winter Olympics approach, there was one athlete everyone was waiting to see, |
| 0:16.5 | Lindsay Vaughn. |
| 0:17.9 | The skiing star was on the cusp of capping off one of the most remarkable career comebacks ever after a five-year retirement and a knee replacement. |
| 0:26.0 | But even before the games began, Vaughn crashed and injured her knee. |
| 0:30.5 | Where is Vaughn? Where is Vaughn? |
| 0:33.1 | Oh, Von is in the netting! Oh, my goodness me! |
| 0:38.6 | Lindsay Vaughn has crashed out. |
| 0:41.7 | I completely ruptured my ACL. |
| 0:43.9 | I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren't the same as it stands today, but I know there's still a chance. |
| 0:52.1 | And as long as there's a chance, I will try. |
| 0:55.0 | And so she did. |
| 0:56.2 | Millions watched on February 8th as the 41-year-old started her race on the slope at Cortina. |
| 1:01.6 | Here we go with Lindsay Vaughn in this amazing comeback. |
| 1:05.4 | And just 13 seconds into her downhill run, everything changed. |
| 1:09.5 | Oh, no! Right at the top of the challenge, Lindsay Vaughn smashes in the opening traverse, |
| 1:16.9 | and the Olympic dream is over. |
| 1:19.4 | Her arm clipped a gate, set her body flying, and tumbling down the hill. |
| 1:24.3 | She landed hard, her leg was badly broken. |
| 1:27.2 | Medical assistance is there for Vaughn, but she's screaming, screaming. hill. She landed hard. Her leg was badly broken. |
... |
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