Lindsey Vonn, Malinin vs. Sato, and how quickly we move on

Veteran sportswriter Richard Deitsch takes an international view of the Olympics.

First there were the screams from CBC alpine skiing analyst Erin Mielzynski, then fear and concern for Lindsey Vonn. It was horrible but you could not turn away, a global audience watching the end of an Olympic dream and possibly an iconic sporting career. 

Next, the buzzing of a medical helicopter, followed by an airlift and flight over the finish line. There was Vonn’s fellow American skier, Breezy Johnson, having to sit forever after a historic downhill run, knowing her U.S. teammate had just been airlifted away but also wondering if her time could hold. There were images from the crowd, a perfect distillation of our modern moment. 

Those closest to Vonn, her family, sitting in bewilderment, and with obvious concern. 

Snoop Dogg, the ubiquitous NBC Sports correspondent, peered into the distance, looking forlorn. Others waved to the cameras, happy to see themselves on a Jumbotron, as if they were in the 500 level at Rogers Centre on a summer Toronto day. 

There were 23 skiers yet to come, all attempting to focus on their race and Olympic dreams. Crashes are part of the sport but this one was also different given who crashed. The AP later reported Vonn underwent an orthopedic operation to stabilize a fracture reported in her left leg.

It was a surreal morning on the Cortina d'Ampezzo course. But also an honest one. The cruelty and joys of sport at the highest level — and people moving on to the next event, to the next show, including the Super Bowl in the evening. 

Lindsey Vonn airlifted to hospital after serious crash during Olympic downhill

Hours after Vonn’s crash in Cortina, we saw an absolutely brilliant show in the figure skating