Team USA Claims Two Golds as Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Comeback Ends in Crash

Team USA began the 2026 Winter Olympics with two gold medals, but the celebration was overshadowed by a devastating crash that ended Lindsey Vonn's comeback before it truly started.

The Milan Cortina Games opened with American triumphs on the slopes and ice, but the day's biggest story unfolded in Cortina when Vonn's pole caught a gate during the downhill, throwing her to the ground and breaking her leg. A helicopter evacuated the 41-year-old from the mountainside as the crowd watched in stunned silence. Vonn remains hospitalized in Italy following surgery on her broken leg. She's being monitored in the intensive care unit for added privacy. 

The injury came just moments after Breezy Johnson captured Team USA's first medal of the Games with a gold in the women's downhill. Johnson's lightning-fast run secured the top spot and validated years of preparation.

"It was so many different emotions, and you know, today it was enough. It's been so much work. So, yeah, I'm just happy that it paid off," Johnson said after her win.

On the ice, American figure skaters delivered a dramatic finish in the team competition. U.S. superstar Ilia Malinin edged out Japan's Shun Sato by a single point, giving Team USA back-to-back golds in the event—a first in Olympic history.

The American mixed doubles curling team also advanced to the semifinals after two crucial wins, marking the first time a U.S. team has reached the knockout round since the event debuted in 2018.

As of Monday morning, Italy leads the medal count with nine total medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze), followed by Norway with six medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze). Team USA sits in sixth place with just two medals—both gold—behind Japan, Austria, and Germany.

Monday morning's Olympic schedule includes women's singles luge at 8 a.m., women's 1000m speed skating featuring Erin Jackson and world record holder Brittany Bowe at 8:30 a.m., men's team combined downhill and slalom at 9:45 a.m., and the women's snowboard big air final at 10:30 a.m.

You can find up-to-date info on current medal count standings and upcoming Olympic events here.

NBC Palm Springs is the only local station broadcasting full Olympic coverage throughout the Games. Our midday broadcast is suspended during Olympic competition, but viewers can watch AT nbcpalmsprings.com or stream on the NBC Palm Springs Facebook page.