In a powerful show of solidarity across sports, tennis stars Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, Sabine Lisicki, soccer legend David Beckham, gymnastics icon Simone Biles, and countless others are rallying around Lindsey Vonn as the American skiing superstar faces her fourth surgery following a devastating crash at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Cup overall champion, suffered a complex tibial fracture in her left leg just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill run on February 8, 2026. Already competing with a freshly ruptured ACL from a pre-Olympics training mishap, she clipped a gate, tumbled violently, and was airlifted off the course in agony. What was meant to be a triumphant comeback ended in heartbreak—and a grueling recovery road.
Hospitalized in Treviso, Italy, Vonn has already undergone three successful surgeries to stabilize the fracture. In a raw, heartfelt Instagram video update posted on Friday, February 13, she thanked fans for the overwhelming support—flowers, gifts, messages, and love—while revealing the tough path ahead.
“It’s been quite a hard few days here in the hospital,” Vonn shared, sporting a fading bruise under her eye. “I’m finally feeling more like myself… but I have a long, long way to go. Tomorrow I’ll have another surgery, and hopefully that goes well, and then I can potentially leave and go back home, at which point I will need another surgery.”
The post exploded with encouragement from the sports world. Osaka, drawing from her own battles with injuries and mental health, praised Vonn’s unbreakable grit and champion spirit. Clijsters, Lisicki, Biles, Beckham, tennis analyst Rennae Stubbs, and many more flooded the comments with messages of strength, healing vibes, and admiration for Vonn’s fearless mentality.
Meanwhile, Osaka herself is navigating injury woes. The four-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the Australian Open before her third-round clash due to a nagging abdominal issue that flared up in Melbourne. She also skipped the Qatar Open and has now pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships (starting February 16, 2026), raising questions about her timeline for the Indian Wells WTA 1000 in early March.
Vonn’s resilience continues to inspire, even as experts warn her full recovery—focusing on preserving leg function—could take many months, with no immediate return to competitive skiing in sight.
The cross-sport love pouring in proves one thing: true champions lift each other up in the toughest moments. Sending all the strength and positive energy your way, Lindsey—one step (or ski) at a time. ❤️💪
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