Ric Flair honors Lindsey Vonn’s strength on Super Bowl Sunday after her frightening Olympic downhill crash

Ric Flair did not want the world to miss the moment. On Super Bowl Sunday, when most eyes were locked on football, the wrestling legend shifted attention to the mountains of Italy. He spoke up for Lindsey Vonn, after her frightening crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn, one of the most decorated ski racers in U.S. history, went down just seconds into the women’s downhill race in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The fall was violent. The course went silent. Medical teams rushed in, and she was soon lifted out by helicopter for further checks.Not long after, Ric Flair shared a message that cut through the noise. He praised Vonn’s courage, her pain tolerance, and her refusal to back away from hard things.

Flair reminded fans that Vonn had already been through knee surgery and was still willing to push herself on the Olympic stage. His words landed hard because they spoke to the moment, not the spotlight. While the race eventually continued and medals were decided, the focus stayed on Vonn.

Her Olympic run ended early, but the respect around her only grew.

Ric Flair praises Lindsey Vonn after Olympic downhill crash as Breezy Johnson wins gold for Team USA

Ric Flair wrote his message on X, calling Lindsey Vonn a symbol of strength and courage.

He pointed out that she had surgery for a torn ACL and still chose to race. He added that many men would not even try what she attempted at the Olympics. Flair said Vonn should be held in the highest esteem and wished her a fast recovery. The post was shared widely as fans reacted to the crash.The accident happened early on the Olympia delle Tofane course. Vonn took a tight line into a right-hand turn. Her right ski pole clipped a gate, and that small mistake sent her off balance while airborne.

She landed awkwardly and slid off the course. Her scream was heard clearly, and medical staff arrived almost at once. The race stopped for around ten minutes as she was treated.Vonn was placed on a stretcher and flown to a medical facility by helicopter. The U.S. Ski Team later confirmed she would be evaluated by doctors, according to The Associated Press.Once racing resumed, Breezy Johnson delivered a big moment for the United States. The skier from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, won gold with a time of 1 minute, 36.10 seconds. She finished just 0.04 seconds ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher. Italy’s Sofia Goggia took bronze, sending the home crowd into cheers.Another American, Jacqueline Wiles, narrowly missed the podium. She finished tied for fourth, only 0.27 seconds back. While Johnson celebrated her win, concern for Vonn remained strong across the sport.