Rafael Nadal reacts to Lindsey Vonn’s horrific crash at the Winter Olympics Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has sent a heartfelt message to American ski star Lindsey Vonn after she suffered a shocking and painful accident at the Winter Olympics. Nadal praised her courage and strength, writing: “Lindsey Vonn, you are a great inspiration and an example of perseverance. Stay strong and get well soon!”Vonn’s crash happened during the Cortina d’Ampezzo downhill, just seconds after she started the ride. In bright sunny weather, she lost control, twisted in the air and crashed into the snow. A 41-year-old woman screamed in pain as paramedics rushed to help her. The crowd watching down the slope went completely silent as they saw the accident on the big screens. She was later carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital by helicopter.Despite the shocking incident, Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson won the gold medal. However, her thoughts were with Vonn, saying, “My heart goes out to her. I hope it’s not as bad as it looked.” Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow also reacted emotionally, saying, “That was definitely the last thing we wanted to see.”Vonn’s Olympic comeback story has inspired many. She retired in 2019 but returned in 2024 after knee surgery, hoping to win another Olympic medal 16 years after her last gold. Her plans were complicated by a recent crash that left her with a torn ACL, but she decided to compete anyway.She said: “This is obviously not what I was hoping for… I know what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances are not what they are today,” and “But I know there’s still a chance and as long as there’s a chance I’ll try.”
