Lindsey Vonn, the iconic American skier whose Olympic dreams were cut short by injury at Milano Cortina 2026, is now grieving a deeply personal loss: the death of her cherished dog Leo, whom she called her “first love.”
In a poignant Instagram tribute posted Wednesday, Vonn revealed that Leo, adopted following her second ACL injury in 2013, died on February 9 — one day after Vonn’s horrific crash in the women’s downhill event. The 13-year-old companion succumbed to heart failure amid complications from a recent lung cancer diagnosis, following his earlier remission from lymphoma.
“This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of life,” Vonn wrote, admitting she has yet to fully process the loss. From her hospital bed in Italy, where she underwent several surgeries for a fractured tibia sustained in the Olympic fall, Vonn bid farewell to Leo remotely. “As I lay in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time.”
Leo provided unwavering emotional support through Vonn’s career challenges, including watching the Sochi 2014 Olympics together during her recovery and offering comfort during subsequent surgeries. “He lay by me, and cuddled me, always making me feel safe and loved,” she shared.
Vonn’s Olympic participation had already been marked by adversity: She tore her ACL in training shortly before the Games but chose to compete anyway. Her crash — which halted the race and required airlifting — has sparked conversations about equipment safety. Now back in the United States after multiple procedures, Vonn faces further surgery while mourning.
“I will love you forever my big boy 🤍,” she concluded, emphasizing Leo’s irreplaceable role. The post has drawn widespread empathy from the sports world, underscoring how pets often become lifelines for elite athletes facing physical and emotional trials.
