The crowd in the grandstands went silent as Lindsey Vonn lay motionless on the snow. For them, her crash in an Olympic final was a nightmare moment. But for Vonn’s sisters, Karin and Laura and her father Alan, watching helplessly from afar was a bigger nightmare. Karin screamed, Laura shut her eyes, and Alan appeared to wipe a tear from underneath his sunglasses. And now, while Vonn remains hospitalized and undergoes treatment, Alan makes a difficult confession.

In a telephonic interview with Associated Press, Lindsey Vonn’s father said he hopes Lindsey Vonn retires for good after her brutal crash in Tofane on Sunday.

“She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career,” Alan said. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”

Just 13 seconds into her Olympic downhill run, Vonn crashed brutally, with pain that left her wailing. She had to be airlifted and taken to a hospital in Cortina, from where she was transferred to Treviso. Clearly, this incident has left his family, especially her dad deeply affected, to the point that he wishes for her to end her career.

Recalling the crash, Vonn’s father admitted it was hard to watch: “It’s hard to just accept what happened.” But the crash has left the entire family shaken.

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In the meantime, Vonn’s father even provided some fresh updates on her condition too.

“She’s a very strong individual. She knows physical pain and understands the circumstances she’s in. She’s handling it better than I expected,” Alan praised her emotional strength.

After all, Vonn returned from her retirement in 2024 and competed in the 2026 despite a “100%” torn ACL in her left knee. So yes, her strength is indeed commendable.

As of now, Lindsey Vonn has undergone an orthopedic operation to stabilize a fracture reported in her left leg. However, she reportedly underwent a second operational procedure too to prevent complications linked to swelling and blood flow.

Per Bild, the Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso announced that Vonn is currently being kept in isolation in her room by members of the US team. And she could be expected to be there a couple more days.

In the meantime, Vonn’s father confirmed, she will not return to the Olympics, not even to cheer on teammates.  “No, she’s not in that kind of situation,” Alan Kildow confirmed. “She will be going home at an appropriate point in time.”

His protection now mirrors one he has offered her throughout his life…from her earliest days on skis to this critical moment of her life.

Alan Kildow and Lindsey Vonn grew up skiing

Since Lindsey Vonn first strapped skis at the age of two, her dad, Alan Kildow, a retired ski racer who retired from the sport due to a knee injury, has played a huge role in her life. He spotted her talent at a tender age, gave her a push, trained her in the fundamentals of riding and made her a champion. 

But their relationship wasn’t always easy. Lindsey has spoken openly about the emotional challenges of growing up with her father. “I always tend to get my dad something ski related for Father’s Day because that’s the one thing we really have in common,” she said.

“He always supported me when I did well which was 90 percent of the time but when I didn’t, he didn’t handle it very well. It was so hot and cold. It was so much criticism and so much negativity and it was really hard to balance my emotions.”

But today, their relationship is stronger than ever. After Lindsey Vonn’s victory in St. Moritz, she recalled, “He cried so hard, I’ve never heard that before in my life.” And when asked how proud her father was, she laughed and remembered his words: “He said, ‘That’s not bad for an old woman.’”

Through all the ups and downs, Alan Kildow has always been there and he’s continuing the same even today. And his hope that Vonn ends her career now also definitely comes from a place of concern.