Former British downhill skier Chemmy Alcott was on the verge of tears as she reacted to Lindsey Vonn’s horror crash during at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Vonn crashed in the early stages of the women’s downhill event, with the 41-year-old American having taken to the start despite rupturing her ACL just nine days ago.
As Vonn was attended to by medical staff, with the American heard crying out in pain, BBC presenter Hazel Irvine crossed to Alcott, who was reporting from near the finish.
Alcott, who had raced with Vonn during her career, could be heard battling her emotions as she discussed the crash and the uncomfortable atmosphere by the finish.
‘I feel guilty that I am this emotional. I just never believed it would end in a clump at the side of the piste, not moving,’ Alcott said.
‘What we saw that the top of the piste is really hard for a fit athlete, she just had her right knee. It is brutal, think about her family, her team and herself.
Lindsey Vonn suffered a major crash during the women’s downhill event at the Winter Olympics
Vonn crashed in the early stages, with the incident coming just nine days after she had ruptured the ACL in her left knee
BBC expert Chemmy Alcott, who skied with Vonn during her own career, battled her emotions as she spoke about the legendary American’s crash
‘We have to be realistic. The risk was really high, the risk she takes when she falls will double that, her body will not be able to take that.
‘There is clapping and there is hope that she would be okay but they have put up some background music because it is uncomfortable.’
Vonn was ultimately placed in a stretcher and was airlifted to hospital by a helicopter.
Organisers had played background music over Vonn’s cries in distressing scenes.
The downhill event had been suspended for around 20 minutes before resuming.
‘This sport is tough and you are pushing yourself to your limit at speed,’ Alcott added.
‘We have a standing ovation now as the helicopter goes.’
Vonn’s American team-mates were visibly emotional following the crash and throughout the delay as she received treatment.
Vonn was airlifted to hospital following the distressing crash, with organisers playing background music due to the uncomfortable situation
Crowds by the finish reacted with shock following the crash, which led to a delay of around 20 minutes as Vonn was attended to
This included Breezy Johnson, who sat in the gold medal chair after setting the early pace in the downhill event.
With racing resuming after Vonn’s crash, Alcott explained how continuing racing so quickly was the safest course of action for the remaining competitors.
‘Breezy Johnson will not be enjoying sitting in that [gold medal] chair, we all know what Lindsey has done to our sport,’ Alcott explained.
‘Lindsey was an early bib number and the temperature is increasing so the later athletes will be taking a big risk.’
