The worst-case scenario for Olympian Lindsey Vonn came just seconds into the women’s downhill final in Cortina, Italy, on Sunday afternoon.

Vonn’s right ski pole clipped a gate as she made her first big jump less than 15 seconds into her run, altering her momentum and direction, prompting a scary crash. 

The race was on hold for more than 20 minutes as Vonn was tended to on the course. She was put on a stretcher and had to be airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital. Vonn, 41, was attempting to make history as the oldest woman to ever medal in the event that she took gold in back at the 2010 Vancouver Games. 

Vonn’s run was the most anticipated event of these Games not just because of her worldwide fame and a longstanding place among the all-time greats in her sport, but also due to the torn ACL she suffered nine days ago in Switzerland while competing in her final pre-Olympics race. Vonn successfully made it down the same mountain and ski trail on Friday and Saturday in the lead-up to Sunday’s final. 

Another skiier, Cande Moreno of Andorra, also crashed during the race and had to be airlifed off the mountain.

Vonn was the 13th skier of the day, and was chasing American Breezy Johnson, 30, who posted the top time with the sixth run of the day. Johnson’s time held and the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, native wound up producing the first gold medal for the United States of the Milan Cortina Games.