One of the most indelible images so far of Winter Olympics 2026 is of American Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn being airlifted after crashing on a downhill attempt on Sunday. The Associated Press delved into air rescue operations and why the whir of helicopter rotors “might be the most feared sound in ski racing.” Anesthesiologist Lydia Rauch, who has worked on air rescue teams in Italy for years, described the importance of immobilizing athletes who might be ignoring or hiding pain/injury and immediately want to get back up.