Vonn crashed just 13 seconds into her race at the women’s downhill event on Feb. 8

Lindsey Vonn and Karin Kildow attend the 2025 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Lindsey Vonn Olympics 2026: Milano Cortina: Alpine Skiing: Women'S, Cortina D'ampezzo, Belluno, Italy - 07 Feb 2026

Lindsey Vonn and Karin Kildow; Lindsey Vonn on Feb. 7.Credit : Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage; Daniel A Anderson/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Lindsey Vonn’s sister is speaking out after the Olympic skier’s dreams of a comeback ended in a scary crash just 13 seconds into her race.

Karin Kildow, who is in Cortina supporting her sister Vonn at the 2026 Winter Olympics, said her family is “hoping for the best” following the scary incident on Feb. 8, which ended with the star athlete being airlifted off the slopes and taken to a hospital in Innsbruck, Austria.

“That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. It happened quick. So when that happens you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay,” Kildow said on NBC’s broadcast. “It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, that is not a good sign.”

Kildow praised her sister’s bravery, saying she “dares greatly” and “always goes 110%.”

A mountain rescue helicopter is seen rescuing Lindsey Vonn of Team United States after she crashed during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 08, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Lindsey Vonn is airlifted off the snow on Feb. 8.Al Bello/Getty

Vonn’s Olympic aspirations were already in jeopardy after she crashed last week and ruptured her left ACL. Despite the setback, she vowed to compete in the women’s downhill race, which was ultimately won by her teammate Breezy Johnson.

“I know she put her whole heart into it and sometimes, just, like, things happen,” Kildow said. “It’s a very dangerous sport. And there are a lot of variables at play. I don’t really know exactly what happened. It did look like a pretty rough fall. We’re just hoping for the best.”

She added that her sister has her medical staff on hand to help her through the injury, and she expects an update on her condition soon.

“I think she is being evaluated right now is the only thing we’ve heard, hopefully we’ll hear more soon,” she said.

Fans of Team United States react after watching Lindsey Vonn of Team United States crash on her run, on a big screen at the finish line during the Women's Downhill on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 08, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Devastated fans look on following Lindsey Vonn’s crash on Feb. 8 at the Olympics.Mattia Ozbot/Getty

Kildow previously shared her support for Vonn on Instagram, sharing a video of her waking up in her hotel room excited to cheer her on.

“Perfect Day!” she captioned the post.

The determined Vonn had posted an emotional statement to her Instagram just hours before the race, saying she believed in herself and had come out of retirement simply because she loved the sport.

“I will race tomorrow in my final Olympic Downhill and while I can’t guarantee a good result, I can guarantee I will give it everything I have,” she wrote. “But no matter what happens, I have already won.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.