Lindsey Vonn's Olympic accident, through the eyes of her family |

Sean Gregory watched with Vonn's father and sister when she crashed trying to win an Olympic medal at age 41 with a torn ACL.

Lindsey Vonn's younger sisters Karin and Laura Kildoe held hands before their older siblings entered the starting gate of the women's Olympic downhill event in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Sunday.Along with the rest of the world, they waited to see if she could pull off the impossible: an Olympic medal, perhaps gold, at the age of 41, not just after knee replacement surgery on her right knee, but one on her left.Torn ACL, which she suffered in a downhill accident a little over a week ago.Repeat: a week ago.

On Super Bowl Sunday, skiing's most prestigious race, the downhill, had become something of a Super Bowl at these Olympics.In the second row, Karin wore a black cowboy hat and a Team USA jacket.Laura wore a blue USA bib.Karin's left hand gripped Laura's right hand.Karin closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Their father, Alan Kildow, stood beside them.Everyone knew about the dangers of this Olympic race, Vonn's determination to make a comebackVonn took a deep breath and jumped out of the gate, but about 13 seconds into the race, her arm hit a gate and she spun and fell on the course.Karin screamed in terror and hung her head.Laura leaned back and closed her eyesAlan crossed his arms at this pointAfter a while, she reached under the left lens of her glasses and began to wipe away the tearsHe bit his lower lip.

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The room became eerily quiet, except for the completely incongruous dance music coming from a speaker.Can't someone stop it?About half a dozen first responders attended to the phone on the mountain.She seemed to be holding her left knee.she screamed.About ten minutes later, a yellow helicopter flew over the mountain.Won was blown off the runway.The crowd waved at Won as she was led away.

On their way out of the venue, Karin and Laura stopped to take a few photos and chat with Snoop Dogg, who was in Cortina as a roving reporter for NBC.Snoop was wearing a Vonn shirt.In the audience, Karin and Laura and several others hugged."I will say that Snoop Dogg really accepted me," Laura said a moment later. "He said, 'Stay strong for Lindsey.'Karin quoted "Man In The Arena", Teddy Roosevelt's famous speech."Those who take risks are people to be admired and she was very reckless," Karin said through tears."She was very reckless. She risked everything."In a statement, US Ski and Snowboard said Vonn "suffered injuries but is in stable condition and is being well cared for by a team of American and Italian doctors."

For Vonn's immediate family — her mother, Linda Anne Krohn, died of ALS in 2022 — a clear, beautiful morning in the Italian Dolomites began with great hope.Vonn loved racing in Cortina, and the prospect of finishing her Olympic career at the beloved venue was the impetus for her return.Before Vonn's Olympic race, Karin said she had been sick for the past few days.Her worry brought tears to her eyes.But now he was calm.

When Wan injured her knee in the final World Cup downhill race before the Olympics, Karen reminded her older sister that she should not compete.In addition, her best results in the World Cup this season - two victories, four more podiums - have already proven that she is a great athlete.Only an idiot would question his decision to quit sports to protect his health.

"He said, 'Never, never tell me,'" says Karen.

Alan did his yoga and meditation the morning of the race, and wanted to make a point in a pre-race chat with TIME.He lives in Vail, Colo., and has had several seniors approach him in recent weeks, telling him that Vonn's comeback has inspired them in their own pursuit of athletic longevity, even if only on a recreational level.What he was doing was skiing.

Lindsey texted her dad that morning to let him know she was there.

After the crash, as Alan was about to head out on his own, I asked him if he wanted to share any thoughts.Maybe later, he said.First, he wanted to check on his daughter.

"I think she's very hurt."